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SEYMOUR  DURST 


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OB  THE 


SIGHTS,  SECRETS  AND  SINS 


OF 


NEW  YORK 


Being  a  ^MondettMl  portrayal  ol  tYve  varied  pYvases  ot  Ule  m 
tieatest  oity  oi  R-mexica.  Gi^mg  Pen  Pictures  ot  "KeMJ  XotV:  City 
" ---its  Men  and  \fdom.en-,  iiOM\i  and  ^Ainexe  tiiey  ii^j:e-,  t^eir 
raannexs  and  customs-,  "ivoAW  tiiey  speculate,  txade,  cYieat 
and  get  G\\eated-,  and  in  tact  a  ptiotograpYv  as  true  as  can 
■pe  made  ol  five  Great  BaPei  oi  tiie  THestern  continent, 
AJM"!n.ere  all  sorts  ol  tilings  are  done, 
aiding  a  true  picture  ol  Hsam  TorVs  inner  lite,  sucli  as  lias  ne^er 
\)etore  tieen  pu^Plislied. 

EDITED  BY 

MATTHEW  HALE  SMITH, 

The  Renowned  "Burleigh"  of  the  New  York  and  Boston  Pres? 

PROF.  HENRY  L.  WILLIAMS, 

Editor,  Author  and  P*utlisher. 

RALPH  BAYARD, 

The  noted  Mew  York  Journalist. 


ilegantly  Embellished  with  over  forty  full  page  Engravings,  each  one  a  gem  ol 
artistic  workmanship. 


^Sold  only  by  our  Authorized  Agents.^ 
CHICAGO: 

PEOPLE'S  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
15  Washington  Street. 


COPYKIGHT, 
1887. 

'EOPLE'S  PUBLISHING  TO. 


Publisljers'  Preface. 

This  volume,  while  replete  with  historical  matter, 
does  rjot  purport  to  be  a  history  of  New  York.  It  is  a 
compilatioq  of  sketches,  wherein  scenes  and  incidents 
attendant  upon  life  in  the  metropolis  of  tlje  New  World, 
are  faithfully  portrayed.  There  has  been  rjo  attempt 
at  coloring  or  sensational  writing,  and,  while  the  truth 
has  beer]  told,  it  Ijas  been  presented  in  a  chaste 
but  uiuid  manner  The  subjects  treated,  from  be- 
ginning to  end,  are  those  believed  to  be  equally  in- 
structing and  amusing.  This  work  was  designed  by 
tlje  late  Matthew  IjoJe  Smitt],  who,  under  the  nom  de 
plumie  of  "Burleigh,"  contributed  largely  upon  New 
York  topics  to  thjC  leadiqg  journals  of  the  United 
States,  and  wrote  a  volume  entitled  "Sunshine  and 
Shadow."  flt  Mr.  Smitti's  demise.  Professor  M.  L  Wil- 
lianjS;  a  prominent  New  York  journalist,  was  engaged 
to  finish  tf]is  work.  He,  however,  speedily  followed 
his  predecessor  to  the  tomb.  Commencing  where 
deathj  concluded  the  labors  of  Mr.  Smjith  apd  Profes- 
sor Williams,  lijr  Ralph  Bayard,  (now  engaged  or]  the 
editorial  staff  of  the  "New  York  Daily  Graphic," )  has 
happily  succeeded  in  completing  the  "Wonders  of  a 
Great  City." 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


chapter  1. 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

GeograpHcal  Description  of  the  Metropolis  of  the  New  World — The  Prin- 
cipal Streets — New  York  as  a  Place  of  Residence — Its  Beneficence — 
An  Example— The  Ministry  of  New  York  26 

CYi-  -)ter  11. 
METROPOLITAN  HIGH  LIFE. 
The  Class  of  People  who  suffice  to  make  up  its  Legion — Conspicuous  Ab- 
sence of  the  Knickerbockers — A  Sample  High  Life  Ball — Cocking  Main 
in  a  Fifth  Avenue  Parlor  39 

CYiapter  111. 

WALL  STREET  IN  OLDEN  TIMES. 

Early  Speculations  in  the  Street — 1670  and  1870 — Sharp  Financiering — Fed- 
eral Hall — Fashion  in  Wall  Street — George  Washington — Costumes — 
Odd  Customs— Wall  Street  Religion— Wall  Street  and  the  Brokers.  .47 

Cliapter  lH. 

MODERN  WALL  STREET. 

The  Most  Notorious  Thoroughfare  in  the  World — How  Stocks  are  Bought 
and  Sold — Wrangles  of  the  Bulls  and  Bears — Operators  on  the  Street — 
The  Stock  Exchange  and  its  Lesser  Adjuncts — In  the  Clearing  House — 
How  a  Tight  Money  Market  is  created—Black  Friday  65 

GYiapter  H. 

SPECULATION  AND  ITS  FRUITS. 

A.  few  Observations  as  to  the  Causes  which  induce  men  to  enter  Wall  Street 
— A  Case  in  Point — No  Moral  Principle— The  Infatuation — Sharp 
Practices— The  Street  on  the  Outside— One  Noted  Fraud— Perils  of 
Speculation. — Honesty  Leads  87 


vi 


Contents. 


Ctopter  Yl. 

TWO  FINANCIAL  TrPHOONS. 

The  Panic  of  1873  and  the  Disastrous  Outcome  of  the  Grant  &  Ward  Fail- 
ure— The  Moneyed  Center  Shaken — Houses  Blown  Do^vti — The  Man- 
hattan Bank  on  the  Crisis — The  Great  Crash — Tne  Revulsion — Return- 
ing- Confidence— The  New  Styles  and  the  Old— The  Trust  Company  on  the 
Heights— Fisk  and  Gould— A  Sadder  View— The  Panic  of  1884— A 
Day  of  Terror— Prominent  Men  Ruined— Ferdinand  Ward's  Victims— 
Graphic  Pen  Pictures — Ward's  Treachery  to  General  Grant  109 

Chapter  'Xril. 

A  NIGHT  ON  THE  BATTERY. 

The  Battery  as  it  was — A  Suicide — A  Dark  Story — The  Temptation — A 
Rescue — Forced  Loans — Traffic  in  Flesh  and  Blood — Maddening  Ex- 
tortions 133 

Ctiapter  ^111. 

BLACK-MAILING  AS  AN  ART. 

Methods  of  Raising  Money — A  Widower  Blaclonailed — A  Minister  Falls 
Among  Thieves — Elaclmiailers  at  a  Wedding  —  A  Bride  Called  on — 
Another  Mode — Blackmailer  Foiled — Hotel  Registers  and  Blackmail.  141 

CYiapter  IX. 

SUNDAY  IN  NEW  YORK. 

A  Specimen  Sabbath  Morning — The  Church  Goers  —The  Pleasure  Goers — 
A  few  Religious  Peculiarities  —  Foreigners  and  Sunday  —  Sample 
Sunday  Amusements — Varied  Notes  152 

Chapter  X. 

THE  NEW  YORK  POLICE. 

The  Old  System  of  Protecting  the  City — How  the  Metropolitan  and  the 
Present  one  were  Created — Organization  and  Methods  of  the  Depart- 
ment— Brave  Men — The  Police  at  their  Work — Always  on  Hand — Station 
House  Scenes — The  Bureau  of  Information  .158 

CJTaapter  XI. 

THE  DETECTIVE  FORCE. 

Its  Origin — Inspector  Byrne,  Prince  of  His  Profession — Qualifications  of  a 
Detective — How  the  Thief  takera  do  their  Work— Why  Rogues  go 


Contents.  vii 

Clear — The  Arrest  of  a  Pickpocket — An  Old  Man  in  Trouble— A  Min- 
ister in  Trouble— A  Sea  Captain  in  Difficulty— Stories  of  Adventure 
by  Members  of  the  Corps— The  Rogues'  Gallery  183 


Chapter  Xll. 
THE  TOMBS. 

History  of  Gotham's  Famous  Prison — How  it  Looks  Outside  and  In — The 
Management — Prisoners  known  to  Criminal  fame,  who  have  been  con- 
fined within  its  Walls — A  Court  Scene — Divine  Service — Ludlow  Street 
Jail  202 


.  Chapter  Xlll. 
THE  FIVE  POINTS. 

A  Scene  at  Five  Points — Ladies'  Five  Points  Mission — Origin  of  the  Work 
— ^The  Field  Selected — The  Nationality  of  the  Lowly — The  Mission  begun 
— A  Walk  Around  Five  Points — The  Mission  of  the  Beautiful — How 
the  Work  is  Supported — Success  of  the  Mission  Work — A  Remarkable 
Meeting  221 


Ctiapter  XIY. 
THE  BOWERY. 

The  Flashiest  of  all  Flash  Streets  in  the  Metropolis — Its  Appearance  on 
Sunday — ^The  Persons  who  Inhabit  it — Lager  Beer  Gardens — A  Walk  up 
the  Avenue  233 


INCIDENTS  IN  CITY  EVANGELIZATION. 

The  New  York  City  Mission — Origin  of  the  Work — Thrilling  Incidents — 
Temperance  in  a  Rum  Saloon — Rescue  of  the  Destitute — A  Soldier  in 
Trouble — A  Young  Man's  Story — Not  Easily  Discouraged — A  Mission- 
ary's Daily  Work — A  Fool  Answered  According  to  his  Folly  238 


Cb.ap\,er  XYl. 

BUSINESS  REVERSES  IN  NEW  YORK. 

Mirage  of  Wealth — Railroad  Conductor— A  Railroad  King— Saratoga  BeUe 
—Rock  in  the  Channel— Success  a  Coy  Thing— Old  Merchants  248 


Contents. 


Chapter  XYll. 

FAST  LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK. 

Recreations  of  the  Fast  Class— A  Ruined  Man,  once  a  Financial  King— 
The  Fast  Men  at  the  Club  Houses— The  Club  Houses,  and  How  They 
Live  There— A  Startling  Case  262 

NEW  YORK'S  BLIGHT. 

The  Alarming  Prevalence  of  Prostitution — Statistics  of  the  Lost  Sister- 
hood—Houses of  the  First  Class— How  they  are  Filled— Agents  and 
Runners— Startling  Facts— A  Night  Encounter— A  Mayor's  Experience 
— Hopeless  Classes — Houses  of  Assignation — Women  on  the  Pave — 
Sad  Sketches  .•  270 

Gb-apter  XIX. 

CLUBS  OF  THE  CITY. 

Some  of  the  Institutions  where  Weary  Men  Seek  Quiet  and  Recreation — 
The  Union  League,  Manhattan,  Blossom,  Century,  New  York,  Union, 
Lotos,  Coaching,  St.  Nicholas,  Lambs  and  Author's  Clubs — Pet  Hood- 


lum Organizations  299 

CYvapter  XX. 

NEW  YEAR'S  DAY  IN  NEW  YORK. 

Its  Antiquity — The  Preparation— The  Table— The  Dress  of  the  Ladies — 
The  Reception— New  Year's  Night  312 

CYiapter  XYvl. 
CENTRAL  PARK. 


Origin  of  the  Greatest  Free  Park  in  the  World — How  it  may  be  Reached 
from  the  Business  Section  of  the  City — Objects  of  Universal  Interest— 
The  Menagerie  and  Museums— Cleopatra's  Needle— The  Mall— Gates 
and  their  Titles— Riverside  Park  and  General  Grant's  Tomb  318 

C\\apteT  XXU. 

THE  GAMBLING  HOUSES. 

Handsomely  furnished  Parlors  Where  the  Tiger  is  more  Relentless  than  in 
his  Native  Jungle — How  Some  of  the  Principal  Houses  are  Arranged — 
John  Morrissey's  Connection  with  Gambling —Day  and  Night  Games— 
The  Plucking  System— Female  Gambling  Houses— Pool  Rooms,  Policy 
and  Lottery  338 


Contents. 


ix 


THE  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

How  the  Present  Excellent  System  Supplanted  the  Old  Volunteer  Organiza- 
tions— Strength  of  the  Department — The  Engines,  Horses,  Men  and 
Methods  in  Vogue— Government  of  the  Force  374 

FIRST  DIVISION  NATIONAL  GUARD. 

Formation  of  the  Division — The  Military  as  a  Police  Force— The  Military 
and  Riots — The  Seventh  Regiment  at  the  Astor  Place  Riot— Mayor 
Wood's  Riot — An  Episode — Tlie  Finale — First  Division  and  the  War — 
Presidential  Reception — The  Parades  381 

GYiapter  XX'^T. 

LIFE  AMONG  THE  LOWLY. 

Homes  of  the  Impoverished  —  A  Night  Tramp — Barefooted  Beggars — A 
Street  Boy — A  Sad  Scene— Genteel  Suffering — Park  liodgers  and  their 


Methods — Homes  for  Seamen — The  Beggar's  Revel  .394 

THE  CHILDREN  OF  ABRAHAM. 

The  Jews  in  New  York — The  Svnagogues — Innovations — The  Feast  of  tiie 
Passover — Jewish  Sunday  Schools  414 


Gliapter  XXYll. 
UNLUCKY  MEN. 

Old  Superstitions — Wizards  on  the  Street — Lucky  and  Unlucky  Days- 
Lucky  and  Unlucky  Men — Hospital  for  Decayed  Merchants — Illustra- 
tions of  111  Luck— The  Devil  421 

CYiaptex  XXYIU. 
PANEL-THIEVING. 
A  System  of  Robbery  which  is  Seldom  Punished — Operatives  and  Victims — 
How  the  Fly  is  Lured  to  the  Spider's  Parlor — The  Disgraceful  Game  in 
Detail  427 


CD 


Contents, 


POLITICAL  MACHINES. 

The  Political  Organizations  of  the  Metropolis  as  Mammoth  as  its  Business 
Enternrises — Halls  and  Factions~Hu\v  a  Campaign  is  Conducted — The 
Use  of  Money  in  Elections  431 

FORTUNE'S  EBB  AND  FLOW. 

How  Money  is  Lost  and  Made  in  Speculation— The  Wealth  of  Wall  Street — 
Poor  Boys  and  Rich  Men — A  few  Blui^^trations  of  the  Methods  by  which 
Operators  can  Successfully  Def}'  Fickle  F ortune — A  glimpse  at  the  Otjier 
Side  of  the  Subject— Infatuated  Women  who  desire  to  Dabble  in  Stocks 
— A  Successful  Greenhorn  439 


Clciapter  XXXI. 
FINANCIAL  IRREGULARITIES. 

A  New  Synonym  for  Crime  in  Yogue  in  Speculative  Circles — The  Peculiar 
Atmosphci-e  of  New  York's  Fatal  Maelstrom — Some  of  the  Immorali- 
ties of  the  Street — How  the  Money  Goes — The  Gray  and  Ketchum 
Methods— Human  Wrecks  456 


Claapter  XXXU. 
THE  SAWDUST  GAME. 

How  Persons  from  the  Rural  Districts  with  a  few  dollars  and  an  all  consum- 
ing Desire  to  bccom_e  Speedily  Rich,  are  Shorn — Counterfeit  Money  in 
Name  Only — An  Interview  with  the  King  of  Bogus  Currency  Swind- 
lers 475 

Chapter  XXXlll. 

CONFIDENCE  OPERATORS. 

Devices  which  Lure  the  Dollars  from  the  Pockets  of  the  Confiding — Some  of 
the  Number  Exposed — Plin  White's  Remarkable  Career — Property  of 
Orphans  and  AVidows — Bogiis  Auctions — Sham  Jewels  and  Subscrip- 
tion Lists — Petty  Swindles  481 


Contents.  xi 


THE  CRIMINAL  CLASS. 

Statistics  of  the  Pirate  Element  of  the  ^Metropolis — Professional  Thieves 
a,nd  their  Methods  of  Making-  a  Turn — The  Bank  Burglar — Thieves  and 
their  Relations  to  the  Modern  Vidocq's — Night  Hackmen  who  Rob 
their  Fares — Reformation  Practically  out  of  the  Question  509 


Chapter  XXXU. 
BOODLE  ALDERMEN. 

The  Disgraceful  Sale  of  Broadway  to  a  Street  Car  Corporation  by  the  City 
Council — A  Part  of  the  Bribe-Takers  in  the  Penitentiary  and  the  Re- 
mainder in  Canada — Waite's  Case  534 


DISHONEST  DEVICES. 

Gift  Swindles  and  Lottery  Enterprises  of  the  Metropolis — Tlieir  Extent  and 
Plans  of  Operation — The  Prize  Ticket,  Circular  and  Medical  Schemes — 
Some  Sample  Letters  541 


Chapter  XXXTTll. 
SKETCHES  HERE  AND  THERE. 

Sharp  Men  and  Sharp  Trade — The  Dangerous  Practice  of  Imitating  Signa- 
tures— Tricks  to  get  ]\Ioney — Exj)erts — Sold  out  of  House  and  Home — 
Jacob  Little  and  Morse  in  Wall  Street — Shadows  on  the  Street — A 
Reasonable  Request — Religion  in  the  Street — Lady  Brokers  552 

Chapter  XXX^lll. 
PUBLISHER  ROBERT  BONNER, 

His  Early  Career  and  Removal  to  New  York — His  System  of  Advertising — 
The  Value  of  a  Name — Mr.  Beecher  and  the  Ledger — Bonner's  Horses 
— Personal  Traits  568 


Chapter  XXXIX. 
THE  ONLY  BARNUM. 

Sketch  of  the  Man  Wlio  Has  in  His  Time  both  Humbugged  and  Amused 
the  World — His  Early  Career — The  Theory  of  Success — Unhappy  Re- 
verses— Some  Personal  Incidents  579 


Contents, 


JAMES  FISK,  Jr. 

The  Architect  of  His  Own  Fortune— Sets  Up  For  Himself — Mr.  Fisk  as  a 
Business  Man — The  Opera  House — The  September  Panic — Run  on  the 
Tenth  National  Bank— Murdered  by  Stokes  590 


COMMODORE  VANDERBILT. 

Vanderbilt  and  Collins — The  Hudson  River  Railroad — Vanderbilt's  Re- 
venge— Vanderbilt  iu  His  Office — Personal  Incidents — Railroad  Slaugh- 
ter —  Personals  —  Vanderbilt  and  His  Horses  —  The  Vanderbilt 
Property  607 


STEWART,  THE  PRINCELY  MERCHANT. 

The  Down-Town  Store  —  Early  Career  —  Sensational  Advertising  —  How 
Stewart  Did  Business — Stewart  at  His  Work — Running  the  Gauntlet — 
An  Autocrat — A  Napoleon  in  Trade — Shrewd  Investments — Personal 
of  Stewart— His  Death  621 


Ob.apter  XI^lll. 
JAY  GOULD. 

The  Man  who  has  Made  Many  Millions  by  Watering  Stocks  and  Wrecking 
Railroad  and  Telegraph  Companies — His  Early  Career — Operations 
with  Fish— Questionable  Transactions— An  Unenviable  Record  637 

Chapter  XUY. 

THE  METROPOLITAN  PRESS. 

Printing-House  Square— A  Brief  Bit  of  History — How  Morning  Journals 
are  Made — Night  Work — Stereotypes  from  the  Forms — How  the  News 
is  Collected  and  Distributed — Editors  and  Journalists — The  New  York 
Press — Bennett  and  Greeley — Editors  of  To-day  651 


HENRY  WARD  BEECHER. 

Brief  Resume  of  the  Life  and  Works  of  the  Late  Plymouth  Pastor — His 
Personal  Magnetism — His  Belief  one  of  True  and  Loveable  Christianity 
— Occasions  When  His  Character  Stamped  Him  the  Prince  of  Modern 
Teachers— Dark  Moments — Closing  Scenes  674 


Contents, 


edit 


DASHES  HERE  AND  THERE. 

A  Hobby  Among  Women  for  Cosmetics — Burning  their  Faces  in  Order  to 
Improve  their  Complexion — How  Families  Thrive  on  Canal  Boats  in 
Winter — Melting  Down  Millions  of  Silver — Minor  Topics  699 

MANHATTAN  CAUSERIE. 

The  Photographic  Craze — Type- Writing  Put  to  a  Bad  Use — The  Messenger 
Boy — Central  Park  Ambulances — The  Morgue — Flower  Mission — Titled 
Americans — Moonlight  Pic-nics — Metropolitan  Moonshiners — Statistics 
of  Immigration  738 

TALMAGE  AND  THE  TABERNACLE. 

Portrait  of  the  Popular  Brooklyn  Divine — His  Career  and  Success — The 
New  Tabernacle — The  Night  Side  of  New  York — Talmage's  Trial — 
The  Sensationalist  Abroad — Talmage  as  a  Lecturer  777 

Chapter  XUX. 

NEW  YORK  IN  SUMMER.; 

How  the  Tired  and  Heated  may  Ferret  Out  Cool  Spots — Delicious  Glen 
Island — Long  Branch  and  Rockaway — Coney  Island  Down  The  Bay — 
Some  of  the  American  Brighton's  Attractions  783 

Chapter  li. 

THE  ELEVATED  RAILWAYS. 

Rapid  Transit — The  Metropolitan  Elevated  Railways — How  the  Roads  are 
Constructed — The  Stations  and  Equipments — Upper  New  York — Im- 
mense Advantages  of  the  Roads  to  the  City  793 

Glvapter  1^1. 

MEAT  FOR  THE  MILLION. 

How  the  City  is  Fed— Sources  of  Supply— Stock  Yards  and  Slaughter 
Houses — The  Metropolitan  Markets— Washington  Market  in  the  Morn- 
ing— Restaurants  and  Cheap  Eating  Houses — Millions  to  Feed 
Millions  798 


ayiv 


Contents. 


THE  NEW  YORK  POST  OFFICE. 

Postal  Sen-ice  Years  Ago— The  New  Post  Office— Business  of  the  Office- 
Expert  Clerks — Checks  and  Safe-Guards — A  Busy  Place  807 

GYiapter  1^111. 

METROPOLITAN  AMUSEMENTS. 

The  Old  Park  Theatre— Other  Old  Theatres— Modern  Places  of  Amusement 
— Stage  Epidemics — The  Theatre  of  To-day  811 

HOTELS  IN  THE  CITY. 

The  City  Coffee  House — Shakespeare  Tavern  and  Washington  Hotel — The 
Modern  Broadway  Houses — Some  of  the  Grand  Up-town  Hotels — 
Means  and  Appliances  of  the  Present  816 

0\\apter  \JSL. 

PECULIARITIES  OF  GOTHAM  CHURCHES. 

Clerical  Repute — Fluctuations  of  Places  of  Worship — Grace  Church — Way- 
side Worship  —  Treatment  of  Strangers — Trinity  and  its  Vast  and 
Wealthy  Estates  820 

QUEER  INDUSTRIES. 

Strange  Avocations  by  which  Hundreds  of  Persons  Contrive  to  Make  a 
Living — The  Sauer  Krant  Cutter  and  Cat  Meat  Man — Street  Vendors 
of  Cooling  Drinks — Fakirs,  Artists  and  Musicians — Sandwich  Perambu- 
lators—The Time  Peddler  831 

Clcvapter  Ia^II. 

THE  BIG  BRIDGE. 

The  Suspension  Bridge  Over  East  River — Length,  Strength  and  Size  of  the 
Structure — The  Approaches  —  Methods  of  Transportation  —  Opening 
Day  Scenes  846 


Contents. 


XV 


THE  BARTHOLDI  STATUE. 

One  of  the  Modem  Wonders  of  the  World  erected  in  New  York  Harbor — 
The  Gift  to  Free  America  of  a  Liberty-Loving  Frenchman — Description 
of  the  Statue  849 


CYiapter  "UIX. 

MAYOR  HEWITT'S  CRUSADE. 

Successful  War  Ordered  A.<?ainst  the  Dives  of  Gotham — One  Class  of  Vice 
put  down  by  a  Determined  City  Official — A  Tour  of  the  Plague- Spot 
District — Encouraging  Scenes  854 


full-png^-Illu5frRtion^. 


1— B\Td's-eye  ^iew  ol  Hew  'Yor'k  City. 
Z— 0\des\.  pic\.\ire  ol  Hew  Tor'k. 

3—  Hew  Tor'k  m  1664. 

4— T\ie  lirst  "Public  Scliool  House. 

^— Yullon's  llrsl;  s\;eaml)oa\, ;  "live  Clermoat. 
"  6— Old  Ci\.Y  or  federal  Hall ;  Wall  street. 
^— Old  Broo'klyii  "Ferry  "House  ol  n46. 
8~'Battery  and  "Bowlmg  Green  durmg  tlie 

■Re^rolution. 
9— Liudlow  Street  3ai\. 

10— Interior  Miew  oltlveTorcibs. 

11— TlieTorcibs  ;  Sunday  morning. 

12— "iTiew  ol  PariL  a\[enue. 

13— Yiew  oi  Soutlv  street. 

14—  Scene  on"Filtli  a-\ienue. 

1^— "\riew  on  "Broadway  near  Post-o'l'Lice. 
16— Tlve  Hew  TorlL  Post-omce. 
n— Interior  \riew  ol  Post-ol'lice. 

18— Trinity  Glvurclv. 

19— Inside  Trinity  Gliurcli. 


xviii 


Illustrations. 


20— liiside  P\ymo\i\.\i  CtiurcYi. 

21— TYve  'BTOO'k.ly TV  Tabernacle. 

22—  S\..  Pal.rlc'k's  Gatliedral. 

23— 'Serald'Buildmg ;  "Broadway  near  Wall  s\.. 

24— Wall  streel^lrom  corner  ol  'Hano^ier  stree"^  ., 

lookmg  \.owards  B)roadway . 
2^— Scene  on  Wall  s\,ree\.  d\3Lring  1884  panic. 
26— i:5nlon  Sciuare. 
2T— "Riverside  "ParlL. 

28—  Genl^ralParlL;  Sal^urday  aTcernoon. 

29—  GentralParlL ;  Tlie  M.aYl. 

30—  Central ParlL;  Tlve  Terrace, 

31— Hew  "Yorl^  RrnbAiVance  Service. 

32— Interior  uiew  ol  "Oae  l^orgne. 

33— HemcJing  and  recewlng  deadlDodies. 

34—  Scenes  at  Castle  Garden. 
3^— R  "PoUsli  trading  post. 
36— Street  Sweeper. 

31— S\inday  l^eer  gardens. 

38— "Fire  engine  on  duty. 

39— ■Par^^'Bank. 

40—  Stools  "Eixcliange- 

41— Tlie  GoldTloom- 

42—  Greenwood  Cemetery.  * 

43— Tearing  down  bmldlngs  lor  approaclies  to 

'Broo'klyn  "Bridge. 

44—  Rpproacli  to  ^ast  Hiiier  B)iidge. 


Illustrations, 


xix 


4^— \riew  ol  ^as\.  Rwer  "Bridge. 
46— "BaT\A:iO\di  S\-a\."ue  ol  "LibBr\.y. 
4T:— T\ie    Pro^^ected    Rrcade    "Railway  Milder 
"Broadway. 

48—  ^\eiia\.ed  "Railway  and  S\,a\,ioii ;  Six.\li  aue. 

49— Yiew  ol"Wes\.  Side 'YlileiiaX.ed  Railway ;  110\.li 

s\,ree\.. 

^0— Tlie  Ice  liidus\.ry  ol  Hew  TorlL. 

^1— outward iDOurid  Ocean  Steamer. 

^2— Grand  Central  Depot. 

^3— Hortli  Riirer  Oyster  "Boats. 

^4— Yiew  ol  Jerome  RarlL  during  tlie  Races. 

^^— "ITiew  ol  Hew  Yorl^  Bay  Irom  tlie  "Battery. 

^6— Tlie  Cats'-meat  Man  on  liis  rounds. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  METROPOLIS  OF  THE  NEW  WORLD — 
THE  PRINCIPAL  STREETS — NEW  YORK  AS  A  PLACE  OF  RESIDEECE — 
ITS  BENEFICENCE — AN  EXAMPLE — THE  MINISTRY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

NEW  YORK  is  the  commercial  metropolis  of  the 
New  World.  It  is  situate  proper  on  an  island 
defined  by  three  rivers :  the  Hudson  or  North,  the  East 
and  the  Harlem.  The  Hudson  is  the  most  magnificent 
river  in  the  world,  enjoying  a  depth  of  water  to  a  point 
far  above  New  York,  sufficient  to  float  the  navies  of 
the  world.  The  East  Eiver  is  ten  miles  in  length,  and 
is  the  arm  which  divides  Long  Island  fi^om  New  York 
State  proper,  and  connects  Long  Island  Sound  with 
New  York  Bay ;  the  Harlem  is  of  slight  consequence, 
except  that  it  furnishes  an  apology  for  a  waterway  from 
the  head  of  the  East  river  across  the  northern  end  of 
New  York  to  the  Hudson  and  forming  the  northern 
boundary  of  Manhattan  Island.  The  city  lies  at  the 
head  of  New  York  Bay,  one  of  the  finest  and  most 
beautiful  sheets  of  water  in  the  world.  The  principal 
street  is  Broadway.    Broadway  traverses  Manhattan 


26  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Island  from  soutli  to  north,  extending  from  Bowling 
Green  down  by  the  Battery  and  Castle  Garden,  to  the 
Harlem  up  near  Washington  Heights.  When  Henry 
Hudson  discovered  the  site  of  New  York,  the  few  In- 
dians there  assembled  caviled  it  Manhattan.  The  Dutch 
changed  the  name  to  Mauritius,  in  honor  of  Prince 
Maurice,  who  at  that  time  governed  Holland.  Later 
on  they  changed  the  name  of  their  little  settlement  to 
Nieuw  Amsterdam.  When  the  English  obtained  pos- 
session they  called  the  village  and  the  unknown  land  to 
the  northwest,  New  York,  as  something  of  a  sop  to  the 
Duke  of  York.  From  the  Battery  northward,  the  city 
spreads  out  like  a  partially  opened  fan.  Its  average 
breadth  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  its  greatest,  four  and 
a  half ;  extreme  length,  sixteen  miles.  Its  area  is  forty- 
one  and  a  half  square  miles,  or  twenty-six  thousand  five 
hundred  acres.  That  portion  of  the  city  north  of  the 
Harlem  river  is  known  as  the  "annexed  district."  It 
comprises  what  used  to  be  known  as  the  town  of  Mott 
Haven,  Tremont  and  Fordham.  The  Harlem  is 
spanned  by  five  bridges,  the  East  River  by  one — the 
Brooklyn  bridge,  the  eighth  wonder  of  the  world — and 
an  attempt  has  been  made  to  tunnel  the  North  river 
from  Jersey  City  to  New  York.  A  prettier  location 
for  a  city  than  Gotham,  it  would  be  difi[icult  to  im- 
agine. Sixteen  miles  only  from  the  Atlantic  ocean, 
which  is  kept  back  by  Staten  Island,  and  between  two 
deep  rivers,  which  open  up  into  the  Bay,  and  find  the 
ocean  thi'ough  the  Nairows,  it  seems  as  though  Man- 
hattan Island  was  originally  laid  out  for  the  site  of  a 
great  commercial  metropolis. 

The  lower  section  of  the  island  is  of  sandy  formation 


The  City  of  New  York.  27 


with  what  seems  to  be  a  good  granite  foundation. 
From  the  Battery  sea  wall  where  the  land  is  only  a  few 
inches  above  the  water's  level,  the  land  gradually  rises 
until  at  the  Northern  limit  it  terminates  in  a  range  of 
cliffs,  which  attain  an  elevation  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  feet  above  the  sea.  New  York  is  well  and  com- 
pactly built,  re]3resenting  probably  every  kno^TO  style  of 
architectm*e.  Along  the  East  River  front  there  are 
few  vacant  blocks.  On  the  West  Side  front  the  city 
has  not  encroached  upon  the  space  lying  between  Six- 
tieth and  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  streets,  to  any  con- 
siderable extent.  Below  Canal  street,  the  thorough- 
fares are  narrow,  squalid,  crooked  and  crowded  looking, 
with  the  exception  of  Broadway.  Many  of  the  down 
to^vn  streets  were  formerly  cow  paths,  and  the  early 
Dutch  and  English  settlers  were  apparently  too  indo- 
lent or  busy  to  lay  out  streets,  and  so  built  along  the  line 
of  the  cow  paths.  Nassau  and  William  streets  are,  in 
their  toii:uous  windings,  fit  illustrations  of  this  early 
lack  of  symmetry  and  design. 

The  streets  traversing  the  city  fi^om  east  to  west  are 
presumed  to  be  numbered,  i,  e.  First,  Second,  Third, 
etc.,  but  this  rule  is  not  observed  until  Eighth  street, 
which,  to  the  west  of  Broadway,  is  known  as  Clinton 
Place,  is  reached.  Then  they  proceed  in  regular  order. 
Some  of  the  west  side  streets,  between  Bleecker  and 
Fourteenth,  are  also  a  trifle  eccentric.  For  instance, 
'West  Thirteenth  street  intersects  West  Fourth,  and  a 
stranger  in  quest  of  a  given  number  on  West  Twelfth, 
chancing  upon  the  Fouith  and  Thirteenth  crossing, 
would  think  himself  a  victim  of  deluium  tremens. 

The  streets  above  Houston  in  the  main  running  par- 


28  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


allel  ^^dtli  tlie  Island,  are  designated  as  avenues.  They 
are  numbered  from  east  to  west,  and  range  from  First 
avenue  on  the  East  River,  to  Twelfth  avenue  on  the 
North  River.  Second,  Third,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh 
and  Eighth  avenues,  are  the  great  business  arteries  of 
the  central  transverse  of  the  Island,  always,  of  course, 
excepting  Broadway.  The  great  Broadway  runs  inde- 
pendently of  all,  for  jumping  Fifth  avenue  at  TAventy- 
third  street,  it  crosses  each,  lying  to  the  west,  in  turn 
before  they  lose  themselves  in  Central  Park  or  in  the 
upper  end  boulevards. 

The  principal  cross  town  business  streets  above  Wall 
are  Fulton,  Chambers,  Pearl,  White,  Canal,  Houston, 
Bleecker,  Fourteenth,  Twenty-third  and  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fifth.  In  the  district  below  Houston,  Cen- 
tre, Bo^very,  West,  Church,  East  Broadway  and  AYest 
Broadway,  William  and  Nassau,  are  the  main  business 
streets,  bairing  Noble  and  South.  Residence  streets  of 
the  lower  end  are  Market,  Pike,  Madison  and  Clinton, 
while  above  Twenty-third  street.  Park,  Lexington,  Mad- 
ison, Fomi:h  and  Fifth  avenues  and  Grammercy  Place, 
are  famous  for  theii'  mansions  the  globe  over. 

The  population  of  New  York  is  something  over  a 
million  and  a  half,  while  its  suburbs — Brooklyn,  Jersey 
City,  NeAvark,  Hoboken,  Long  Island  City,  Astoria 
and  East  New  York,  can  reckon  up  a  like  number  of 
souls.  It  costs  a  million  a  year  to  light  the  city,  thirt}^- 
five  hundred  police  guard  it,  and  nine  hundred  firemen 
are  always  on  duty.  The  city  disburses  a  million  a 
year  in  ]>ublic  charity,  while  three  hundred  and  odd 
religious  and  benevolent  societies,  collect  and  pay  out 
annually  over  two  and  a  half  millions. 


The  City  of  New  York. 


29 


NEW  YORK  AS  A  EESIDEISTCE. 

Something  like  forty  years  ago  a  man  in  Vermont 
proposed  to  visit  New  York.  He  made  his  will,  and 
had  prayers  offered  in  the  chm^ch  that  he  might  be 
kept  from  peril  in  the  wicked  city  to  which  he  was 
o^oino;.  Those  who  live  at  a  distance,  and  know  the 
city  only  through  the  papers,  suppose  it  to  be  as  wicked 
as  Sodom  and  as  unsafe  as  GomoiTah  in  the  time  of 
Lot.  As  a  home  it  has  few  attractions  to  a  stranger. 
Its  babel  and  confusion  distract  and  almost  craze.  Its 
solitude  is  distressing.  In  the  midst  of  a  crowd  the 
stranger  is  alone.  He  might  live  or  die  without  any 
one's  knowing  or  caring.  The  distinguished  man,  or 
well-to-do  merchant  from  the  country,  has  no  deference 
paid  to  him.  He  is  jostled  by  the  crowd,  trampled 
down  by  the  omnibus,  or  run  over  by  the  market  vans. 
He  stands  in  the  vestibule  of  a  fashionable  church  till 
his  legs  tire  and  his  lady  faints  from  indignation,  and 
when  he  has  a  seat,  it  probably  is  a  back  one.  A 
short  I'esidence  in  New  York  changes  things  wonder- 
fidly.  Order  and  harmony  seem  to  come  out  of  the 
confusion.  Families  find  themselves  as  well  protected 
and  as  comfortable  as  in  a  smaller  town.  The  loneli- 
ness and  solitude  find  a  compensation  in  the  independ- 
ence which  each  family  and  person  secures.  A  man  in 
New  York  can  live  as  he  pleases — dwell  in  a  palace  or 
in  an  attic,  dine  at  night  or  not  at  all,  keep  a  dozen 
servants  or  none,  get  up  early  or  late,  live  in  style  or  be 
old-fashioned.  No  one  will  meddle  with  or  trouble  him 
unless  he  undertakes  to  make  great  display.  On  change, 
in  business,  in  the  social  circle,  or  at  church,  the  style 


30 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  a  man's  living  and  doing  harms  him  not.  There  is 
a  warm,  Christian,  benevolent  heart  in  New  York,  a 
frank  and  generous  sociability,  when  one  can  command 
it,  that  is  delightful.  The  family  who  "would  not  live 
in  New  York  if  you  would  give  them  the  best  house 
on  Fifth  Avenue,"  after  a  year's  residence  are  seldom 
willing  to  live  anywhere  else.  The  climate  is  delight- 
ful. It  is  not  savage  and  rasping.  It  is  not  enervating, 
like  Philadelphia  or  Baltimore.  East  winds  do  not 
trouble  the  feeble.  Clear,  bracing  Avinds  come  daily 
from  the  ocean,  bearing  health  on  their  wings.  The 
winter  is  short,  and  seldom  severe.  The  spring  and 
autumn  are  long  and  delicious.  The  weather  for  eight 
months  in  the  year  is  exhilarating,  and  gives  a  charm 
to  life.  Broadway  is  a  perpetual  panorama.  Its  variety 
never  tires.  The  windows  are  filled  with  the  richest 
and  most  elegant  goods.  Gold,  silver,  jewels,  diamonds, 
silks,  satins,  and  costly  fabrics  flash  under  the  plate 
glass  for  miles.  The  pavement  is  the  great  promenade 
where  the  eminent  men  of  New  York  can  be  seen  daily, 
while  ladies  of  fame,  fashion,  and  elegance,  in  the 
richest  and  most  fashionable  attire,  crowd  and  jostle 
each  other  up  and  do^vn  this  great  thoroughfare.  In 
no  city  in  the  world  do  ladies  dress  so  elegantly  and 
with  so  much  expense,  for  the  street,  as  in  New  York. 
Dressed  in  their  gayest  and  most  costly  attire,  their 
broad  skirts  of  the  richest  fabrics,  sweep  the  dirty  side- 
walks, while  the  abundance  of  their  flashing  jewels 
attracts  attention.  The  carriages  of  the  wealthy  roll 
up  and  down  this  favorite  thoroughfare,  and  add  to  the 
bi-illiancy  of  a  bright  day  in  New  York. 

Everything  that  is  manufactui'ed,  or  that  grows  in 


The  City  of  New  York, 


31 


any  part  of  the  world,  can  be  purchased  in  this  city. 
You  can  have  a  tropical  climate  if  you  can  pay  for  it — 
fruits  that  grow  at  the  equator,  and  products  fi'om 
every  part  of  the  world.  A  New  Yorker  need  not  go 
abroad  for  amusement,  recreation,  or  health.  The 
eminent  men  who  visit  America  never  pass  by  New 
York.  Distinguished  artists  come  here  to  sing  and 
perform.  Orators,  musicians,  and  men  on  whom  na- 
tions like  to  look  come  to  the  very  doors  of  residents 
of  this  city. 

MORALITY  OF  THE  CITY. 

Sound  morality  and  business  integrity  have  a  market 
value  in  New  York.  The  city  was  founded  in  religion. 
The  colony  that  bought  the  island  of  the  Indians  was 
a  religious  colony.  The  early  settlers,  scattered  all  the 
way  from  the  Battery  to  West  Chester  County,  met  on 
the  Sabbath  for  worship.  "The  Half  Moon"  cast  her 
anchor  in  the  North  River,  and  the  little  company 
withdrew  to  an  island  and  spent  their  first  Sabbath  in 
thanksgiving  and  praise  to  God.  After  the  toil  of 
Saturday,  companies  came  from  beyond  the  Harlem 
River  to  reach  the  chm-ch  before  the  dawn  of  Sunday, 
that  they  might  not  break  the  Sabbath.  Starting  after 
midnight  on  the  Sabbath,  the  little  company  would 
walk  all  the  way  back,  beguiling  their  path  with  sacred 
song,  and  reach  home  in  season  for  Monday's  work. 
The  spirit  of  these  devout  Dutchmen  lingers  in  the  city. 
No  place  of  its  size  is  more  secure,  is  freer  fi'om  crime, 
or  has  law  better  administered.  A  large  city  is  worse 
than  a  small  one,  because  bad  men  can  hide  themselves 
in  its  solitude.  They  find  scope  for  theii'  talent  and 
genius. 


32 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


The  crime  of  England  is  concentrated  in  London. 
Barricades  in  Paris  toucli  public  security  in  the  re- 
motest provinces  of  France.  Bad  men  locate  in  New 
York,  fix  thei'e  theii'  headquarters,  and  reduce  roguery 
to  a  system.  They  have  their  banks,  expressmen,  ai'tists 
and  a2:ents.  These  men  dwell  in  the  dark  recesses  and 
hidden  chambers  of  the  city.  But  to  New  York  come 
also  the  most  talented  and  best  of  men.  The  talent, 
ability,  integrity,  shrcAvdness  and  sharpness  which 
make  a  small  fortune  in  any  other  place,  make  a 
large  one  in  New  York.  The  best  ability  in  the  nation 
finds  scope  in  the  city  "whose  merchants  are  princes, 
Avhose  trafiickers  are  the  honorable  of  the  earth. "  Large 
societies,  whose  streams  of  humanity  and  religion  fer- 
tilize the  earth,  have  their  fountains  here.  Colleges, 
seminaries,  schools,  in  the  new  and  sparse  settlements 
of  the  land,  are  built  by  New  York  beneficence.  The 
lamp  of  religion,  which  burns  in  the  dark  islands  of  the 
sea,  is  fed  by  the  hands  of  the  bountiful  in  our  city. 
The  feet  of  the  swift  runner  on  the  mountains  of  bar- 
barism, who  carries  the  good  tidings  of  salvation  to  the 
dwellers  in  the  habitations  of  cruelty,  are  made  strong 
by  the  cheei-ful  gifts  of  our  people. 

In  no  city  are  churches  more  elegant  and  numerous, 
congregations  richer  and  more  liberal,  j^reachers  more 
learned  or  eloquent.  La^vyers  who  have  become 
famous  elsewhere  join  the  New  York  bar.  The  shrewd- 
est merchants  of  the  land,  energetic,  far-seeing,  and 
successful,  find  full  scope  for  their  ability  in  this  great 
centre  of  commerce  and  trade.  The  inexorable  law  of 
business  for  half  a  centur}'  demands  integrity  no  less 
than  talent,  if  one  Avould  have  success.    Thousands  of 


The  City  of  New  York. 


33 


men  have  commenced  business  in  New  York  witt  the 
motto,  "All  is  fair  in  trade,"  who  are  "as  honest  as  the 
times  will  allow. "  None  such  have  ever  had  permanent 
success.  A  man  might  as  well  steer  his  bark  in  a  dark 
and  stormy  night,  on  a  deep  and  treacherous  sea,  by  a 
lantern  on  his  bowsprit,  rather  than  by  the  light-house 
on  the  fixed  shore,  as  to  expect  business  success  with- 
out commercial  principle.  Success  in  New  York  is  the 
exception,  failure  the  general  rule.  One  can  count  on 
his  fingers  the  firms  who  have  had  a  quarter  of  a 
centmy's  prosperity.  Such  have  been  eminent  for  their 
commercial  integrity,  for  personal  attention  to  business, 
to  the  inflexible  rule  that  the  purchaser  should  carry 
away  the  exact  article  he  bought. 

ATT  EXAMPLE. 

In  a  little  room  in  one  of  the  by-streets  of  New 
York,  up  a  narrow,  dingy  flight  of  stairs,  a  man  may  be 
found  doing  a  little  brokerage  which  his  fiiends  put 
into  his  hands.  That  man  at  one  time  inherited  the 
name  and  fortune  of  a  house  which  America  delighted 
to  honoi*.  That  house  w^as  founded  by  two  lads  who 
left  theii'  homes  to  seek  their  fortune  in  a  great  city. 
They  owned  nothing  but  the  clothes  they  wore,  and  a 
small  bundle  tied  to  a  stick  and  thrown  over  their 
shoulders.  Their  clothes  were  homespun,  were  woven 
under  the  parental  roof,  and  cut  and  made  by  motherly 
skill  and  sisterly  affection.  Their  shoes  were  coarse 
and  heavy,  and  they  walked  the  whole  distance  fi'om 
tlieir  home  to  the  city  towards  which  they  looked  for 
])Osition  and  fame. 

They  carried  with  them  the  rich  boon  of  a  mother's 
blessing  and  a  mother's  prayers.    They  were  honest, 


34 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


industrious,  truthful,  and  temperate.  They  did  any- 
thing they  found  to  do  that  was  honest.  They  began 
a  little  trade,  which  increased  on  their  hands,  and  ex- 
tended till  it  reached  all  portions  of  the  civilized  world. 
Their  credit  became  as  extensive  as  our  commerce. 
They  identified  themselves  with  every  good  work. 
Education,  humanity,  and  religion  blessed  tlieir  muni- 
ficence. The  founders  of  the  house  died,  leaving  a 
collossal  fortune  and  a  name  without  a  stain.  They  left 
their  business  and  their  reputation  to  the  man  who 
occupies  the  little  chamber  that  we  have  referred  to. 
He  abandoned  the  principles  on  which  the  fame  and 
honor  of  the  house  had  been  built  up.  He  stained 
the  name  that  for  fifty  years  had  been  untarnished. 
Between  two  days  he  fled  fi'om  his  home.  He  wandered 
under  an  assumed  name.  Widows  and  orphans  who 
had  left  trust  money  in  his  hands  lost  their  all.  In  his 
fall  he  dragged  down  the  innocent,  and  spread  conster- 
nation on  all  sides.  A  few  years  passed,  and  after 
skulking  about  in  various  cities  abroad,  he  ventured 
back.    Men  were  too  kind  to  harm  him. 

Those  whom  he  had  befriended  in  the  days  of  his 
prosperity  helped  him  to  a  little  brokerage  to  earn  his 
bread.  In  one  of  our  cities  a  granite  store  was  built. 
It  had  a  fair,  strong  outside  show.  The  builder  said 
it  would  stand  if  filled  with  pig-lead.  The  building  was 
filled  with  valuable  merchandise.  In  the  midst  of 
business  one  day,  the  floors  gave  way,  carrying  every- 
thing into  the  cellar,  the  inmates  barely  escaping  with 
their  lives.  Deep  down  among  the  foundations,  under 
an  important  pillar,  an  unfaithful  workman  had  put  an 
imperfect  stone.    The  exact  pressure  came,  and  the 


The  City  of  New  York. 


35 


wreck  was  complete.  New  York  is  full  of  such  wrecks. 

THE  MINISTKY  OF  XEW  YORK. 

As  a  great  city  draws  toward  it,  the  leading  men  in 
all  the  sciences  and  arts,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  that 
where  the  flocks  are  most  numerous,  shepherds  should 
be  most  plentiful.  Accordingly,  ministers  of  nearly 
every  denomination  are  to  be  found  filling  the  pulpits 
or  speaking  from  the  platforms  in  the  half  thousand 
places  of  worship  strewn  through  the  broad  avenues 
and  narrow  by-ways  of  the  metropolis.  The  Protest- 
ants are  in  a  very  large  majority,  including  Episcopal- 
ians, Eeformed  (Dutch)  Congregation alist,  Presbyter- 
ians, Lutherans,  Methodists  and  Baptists,  while  smaller 
seats  are  the  Quakers,  Unitarians,  Universalists  and 
Swedenborgians.  The  various  Protestant  churches  are 
estimated  to  have  property  and  endowments  to  the 
amount  of  $32,000,000,  while  about  $20,000,000  will 
cover  the  wealth  of  Greeks,  Jews  and  Catholics. 

The  Dutch  Reform  has  priority  of  mention,  as  being 
the  first  Christian  church  in  New  Amsterdam.  It  is 
almost  coeval  with  the  first  arrival  of  the  sturdy  PIol- 
landers.  It  easily  and  quickly  gained  land  and  liber- 
al support  otherwise  from  the  earnest  Reformers,  who 
generally  did  everything  well  and  thoroughly.  Several 
of  their  churches  are  among  the  finest  edifices  in  the 
city,  and  the  ministers  of  this  church  have  taken  a  front 
rank  for  piety  and  learning. 

The  Dutch  Reform  had  scarcely  reared  their  first 
plain  church,  before  the  more  aspirant  Episcopalians 
came  in  with  the  red  cross  of  St.  George.  It  rapidly 
increased  in  numbers  and  wealth,  until  to-day  it  num- 


36 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


bers  some  fifty  churches  and  lesser  theological  edifices, 
supported  by  an  enormous  revenue.  Amons:  its  many 
fine  edifices  may  be  named  Trinity,  overlooking  Wall 
street,  noted  for  its  fine  music  and  its  tuneful  chime  of 
bells ;  Grace  Chm-ch,  on  Broadway,  near  Tenth  street, 
built  of  a  white  granite  which  looks  like  marble  and 
wears  better ;  it  has  a  very  graceful  spire  and  hand- 
some parsonage ;  like  several  other  Episcopal  churches, 
it  has  two  organs,  one  grand  the  other  smaller,  for 
choir  chanting.  Perhaps  St.  Thomas  ranks  quite  as 
highly  as  Grace  in  every  respect ;  it  has  a  more  dark, 
not  to  say  sombre,  appearance  inside  and  out.  But 
the  "Little  Church  Around  the  Corner,"  looms  up  in 
popular  regard  above  and  over  all  the  more  costly  edi- 
fices. Being  very  low  gives  it  an  appearance  of  little- 
ness, but  it  is  quite  a  spacious  place,  sweetly  laid  out 
and  ornamented,  and  looks  like  one  of  the  better  class 
of  English  rural  churches;  being  surrounded  by  a 
God's  Acre,  overrun  wi^h  foliage  and  creeping  plants. 
It  obtained  its  odd  name  of  the  Little  Church  Ai'ound 
the  Corner  in  this  manner :  When  a  Mr.  George  Hol- 
land, an  old  actor  of  the  city,  died  somewhat  suddenly, 
the  incumbent  of  the  Church  of  the  Atonement,  a  very 
towering  Ej)iscopal  edifice,  was  requested  to  have  the 
obsequies  in  his  church.  The  rector,  however  declined, 
but  informed  the  applicants  that  possibly  in  the 
Little  Church  Around  the  Comer,  actor's  funerals 
sometimes  took  place.  Accordingly  Mr.  Holland  was 
laid  to  rest  from  the  little  church,  which,  from  that 
time,  has  been  a  favorite  church  with  the  profession 
and  people  of  liberal  ideas. 

The  Lutherans  are  a  very  numerous  and  estimable 


iic  OTiginal  letter  ol  Geo.  "^asMngton  to  t^e  Ma^or  aivd  oUioials 
ol  HeMa  Xoxt  City. 


.^^^T^l^^ll^^  ^^^'^Cff^^^^f^/'^^^-^K^ 


.cst-<;'^-S>  j::Z.y2^ 


<2*;-^^t2-«_      ^^'^^--i-  (i^II^^o^   ^^S-^;^-.^ 


Yultoii's  Yixst  Steani\3oat---T:Yie  "CleTmont." 


The  City  of  New  York. 


37 


body.  They  own  a  score  of  excellent  cliurclies,  and 
are  quite  well  provided  witli  endowments  for  pastors 
and  churclies.  The  Presbyterians,  including:  its  various 
divisions  on  minor  church  rules,  have  near  one  hundred 
churches,  many  of  them  of  exceeding  beauty;  one 
costing  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The 
Baptists,  like  the  Presbyterians,  were  not  kindly  wel- 
comed to  New  York,  which  like  some  more  ancient 
cities,  appeared  to  have  a  fondness  for  stoning  the 
prophets.  But  since  the  days  of  persecution,  prior  to 
1725,  they  have  multiplied  in  numbers  and  increased 
in  wealth.  The  Methodists  have  increased  w4th  amaz- 
ing rapidity  since  their  little  chapel  in  John  street  was 
first  opened.  The  Friends,  or  Quakers  as  they  are 
sometimes  named,  are  a  very  conservative  body  of 
plain  people,  who  make  no  efforts  to  increase  their 
numbers,  but  their  evident  honesty  and  sincerity  ought 
to  bring  a  great  increase  to  their  church.  Their  wealth 
is  great,  and  their  benefactions  in  keeping  with  their 
abundant  means. 

The  Unitarians  do  not  increase  very  rapidly,  which 
is  somewhat  strange  as  they  are  generally  blessed  with 
pastors  of  high  character,  as  well  as  profound  learn- 
ing, and  manifest  a  lively  interest  in  all  that  concerns 
the  well-being  of  humanity.  The  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  although  about  the  last  to  erect  a  church  edi- 
fice in  New  York,  has  now  the  greatest  number  of  at- 
tendants. Although  the  bulk  of  the  congregations  of 
its  numerous  churches  is  coi:ii  posed  of  foreigners,  still 
large  numbers  of  the  most  opulent  and  respectable  citi- 
zens and  their  families  flock  to  the  magnificent  altars 
planted  in  their  glorious  churches,  many  of  which  are 


38 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


unsui'passed  for  Avonclei-ful  ornamentation,  and  the 
grandeur  and  sweetness  of  their  music. 

The  Cathedral  of  St.  Patrick's  recently  erected,  is 
one  of  the  most  divinely  beautiful  churches  on  this 
continent,  and  occupies  a  site  every  way  worthy  of  its 
1)eauty.  Although  two  millions  of  dollars  have  already 
heen  paid  out  for  its  construction,  it  is  deemed  that 
half  a  million  dollars  more  will  scarce  suffice  to  thoroughly 
finish  it. 


\ 


CHAPTER  II. 


METROPOLITAN  HIGH  LIFE. 

THE  CLASS  OF  PEOPLE  WHO  SUFFICE  TO  MAKE  UP  ITS  LEGION — CON- 
SPICUOUS ABSENCE  OF  THE  KNICKEllBOCKERS — A  MASKED  BALL 
— COCKING    MAIN    IN    A    FIFTH   AVENUE  PARLOR. 

NOT  MANY  years  ago  the  leaders  of  society 
were  men  and  women,  who  without  education^ 
and  of  the  coarsest  manner,  still  by  industry  or 
some  lucky  speculation  found  themselves  elevated  to 
affluence,  and  perhaps  to  their  own  surprise,  looked 
up  to  by  all  in  their  set,  nor  has  this  state  of 
affairs  changed  much,  for  it  is  as  difficult  for  a 
stranger,  who  has  only  money  as  a  passport  to 
enter  into  a  certain  clique,  composed  of  brains 
and  intellect,  as  it  is  easy  for  ignorance  with  a  golden 
key  to  unlock  the  entrance  to  what  is  popularly  sup- 
posed to  be  the  social  circle  of  New  York.  Imitating 
the  English,  we  have  clubs,  the  finest  Fifth  Avenue 
residences  being  used  for  this  purpose  furnished  luxuri- 
ously and  comfortably;  they  are  well  worth  a  visit. 
Like  private  balls,  etc.,  these  clubs  are  of  different 
standing,  for  at  some,  entrance  cannot  be  bought,  and 
good  character  and  learning  are  indispensable  to  be- 
come a  member.  In  as  large  a  city  as  New  York,  it 
is  difficult  to  say  who  is  really  wealthy,  for  fortunes 


40  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


charige  owners  rapidly,  and  a  man,  who  to-day  gives  a 
gorgeous  entertainment,  may  to-morrow  have  the 
auctioneer's  flag  flying  from  his  door,  and  he  will  have 
disappeared  to  make  way  for  the  next.  The  young 
men  here  have  clothes,  boots,  etc.,  of  the  English  make 
and  style,  and  yet  when  a  genuine  "Britisher"  appears 
how  different  they  look,  for  our  visitor  seems  old- 
fashioned,  and  yet  his  garments  are  of  the  latest. 
Every  year  nnds  the  women  more  and  more  like  their 
English  cousins,  as  it  is  no  uncommon  sight  for  stout 
women  to  be  seen  in  every  family,  showing  that  the 
race  of  "sallow-thin"  Americans  is  fast  passing  away, 
in  spite  of  what  other  nations  say. 

With  balls,  theatres,  etc.,  the  winter  soon  passes  and 
the  fashionables  then  get  ready  for  Europe  or  some  re- 
sort at  the  seaside,  of  which  there  are  many  near  the 
metropolis,  the  mountains  and  the  hills ;  and  the  houses 
which  were  so  gay  in  the  winter  and  spring  are  de- 
serted until  cool  weather  again  comes  and  New  York 
resumes  its  whirl  of  dissipation.  Like  all  large  cities. 
New  York  can  show  all  styles.  Looking  from  a  hand- 
some carriage  one  will  see  a  sweet  refined  face ;  next 
will  come  one  that  suggests  a  cook  who  has  taken  her 
mistress'  place  for  a  day's  outing — for  many  make  a  for- 
tune and  move  into  a  handsome  house  with  everything 
that  wealth  can  give,  but  its  owners  need  that  polishing 
which  no  money  can  give.  And  so  one  will  see  in  the 
fashionable  high  life  of  a  large  city,  strong  contrasts 
in  looks  and  manners.  But  the  real  select  circle  are 
apart  from  the  shoddy,  never  encouraging  them  to  pass 
a  slight,  but  ch  how  strong,  boundary  line.  The  old 
families  do  not  visit  or  notice  in  any  way  the  mush- 
room company  that  have  sprung  up  in  a  few  years. 


Metropolitan  High  Life. 


41 


Representatives  of  higli  life  in  New  York  must  be 
divided  into  two  classes — persons  wlio  have  inherited 
wealth  and  wearied  of  the  customs  of  select  and 
fashionable  society  plunge  into  the  latter  day  shoddy 
stream  of  easy  reckless  dissipation,  and  those  who  have 
fortunately  amassed  gold,  are  not  blue-blooded  and  so 
go  in  for  expenditure  and  display,  flattering  themselves 
that  they  thus  become  the  salt  of  the  earth.  The  old 
Knickerbockers  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  loud 
modem  element  which  goes  to  make  up  high  life.  The 
Astors,  Iselins,  Roosevelts,  Wolfs,  Fishers,  Morgans, 
Arnolds  and  other  old-time  honored  families  are  never 
seen  in  conjunction  with  the  lower,  lesser  circle,  to 
which  the  only  passport  is  money.  At  the  French 
balls,  the  Hoffman  House  bar,  Delmonico's  main  dining 
room,  in  the  boxes  at  the  theatres,  gaudy  turn-outs  on 
street  and  road,  at  entertainments  to  third  or  fourth 
rate  English  snobs  and  wine  suppers  to  vaudeville 
actresses,  may  be  found  the  living  embodiments  of  this 
repulsive  class. 

A  SAMPLE  HIGH  LIFE  BALL. 

A  young  Boston  lady,  by  an  eligible  marriage  with  a 
princely  merchant,  became  the  mistress  of  an  extensive 
mansion  in  Madison  Square.  While  in  France  she 
captivated  the  emperor  by  her  superb  dancing  and 
graceful  skating.  His  majesty  sent  her  a  costly 
present.  At  Saratoga  and  Newport  she  drove  her  own 
dashing  team  with  her  footman  behind,  and  became  the 
most  conspicuous  of  the  visitors  at  those  gay  places. 
She  resolved  to  give  a  fancy  ball,  and  all  the  elite 
were  in  a  fever  of  excitement.     Brown,  of  Grace 


42  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Chm'cli,  had  charge  of  the  invitations,  and  five  hundred 
were  given  out.  All  the  guests  Avere  in  costume. 
Three-foui'ths  of  the  guests  ^voYQ  masks.  The  dresses 
were  rich,  elegant,  and  costly.  Suits  were  ordered  fi^om 
Paris  and  London.  The  hostess  appeared  as  the  God- 
dess of  Music.  Her  dress  AN^as  short,  and  her  boots 
scarlet  and  trimmed  with  small  bells.  On  her  head 
was  a  lyre,  from  which  issued  brilliant  jets  of  burning 
gas.  Stock  brokers,  men  in  high  life,  and  fast  New 
Yorkers,  appeared  in  various  characters,  among  which 
the  representatives  of  a  monkey  and  of  Satan  attracted 
the  most  attention.  The  mansion  was  superbly  fitted 
up.  Thousands  of  dollars  were  spent  in  floral  decora- 
tions. Plate  of  gold  and  silver,  china  from  beyond 
the  seas,  adorned  the  table.  Servants  in  brilliant  gold 
and  silver  liveiy  waited  on  the  guests.  Hidden  bands 
sent  music  through  the  mansion.  The  supper  lasted 
till  Ave  in  the  morning.  The  last  strains  of  music  for 
the  dancers  closed  at  six.  The  counting-rooms  were 
thrown  oj)en,  the  hammer  of  the  artisan  was  heard, 
carmen  and  laborers  were  at  their  work,  before  the 
festivities  ended  and  the  door  closed  on  the  last 
departing  guest. 

ONE  rORM  OF  AMUSEMEOT. 

Apart  from  yachting,  horse  racing  and  boxing  bouts, 
cocking  mains  are  the  chief  amusement  of  Gotham 
high  life.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago,  the  writer  was 
afforded  an  opportunity  to  witness  one  of  the  largest 
mains  of  the  season,  which,  strange  to  relate,  came  off 
in  the  parlor  of  a  Fifth  Avenue  mansion  instead  of  in 
the  basement  of  a  beer  saloon  or  the  loft  of  a  livery 


Metropolitan  High  Life.  43 

stable.  The  o\vner  made  a  fortune  in  the  North- 
western iron  mines  last  year,  and  he  has  since  "lived 
like  a  prince."  He  paid  $130,000  for  a  house  on  Fifth 
Avenue  above  Thirty -fourth  street.  Being  a  bachelor, 
without  kith  or  kin,  east  of  the  great  lakes,  he  had  just 
about  as  much  use  for  a  metropolitan  residence  as  a 
wagon  has  for  five  wheels.  It  was  during  one  of  his 
champagne  bouts  that  he  first  concluded  to  give  a  cock- 
fight in  his  parlor.  He  consulted  with  a  few  blooded 
friends  and  they  pronounced  the  project  not  only 
original  but  highly  proper.  About  four  score  invita- 
tions were  issued  by  the  blooded  host  and  they  ^vere 
responded  to  at  ten  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  main 
by  six  dozen  of  the  recipients  in  person.  The  library 
and  back  parlor  were  used  as  reception  and  lounging 
rooms  until  everything  should  be  in  readiness  for  the 
series.  The  large  folding  doors  between  the  front  and 
back  parlors  were  securely  closed.  Among  the  gay 
company  were  a  few  women,  presumaljly  as  fast  as  the 
male  members.  At  half-past  ten  o'clock  the  host  an- 
nounced that  the  fun  would  not  begin  until  eleven 
o'clock,  as  some  of  his  theatrical  fi^iends,  naming  a 
couple  of  queens  of  bm4esque  and  comic  opera  and  a 
popular  comedian  or  two  would  be  unable  to  arrive 
before  that  hour.  Champagne,  however,  floAvecl  fi^ee 
in  the  interim  and  the  company,  the  males  out  of 
deference  to  the  gentler  sex,  united  in  smoking  cigar- 
ettes. In  due  season  the  expected  friends  arrived  and 
then  after  languid  hand-shakings,  a  few  introductions 
and  stereotyped  greetings  and  weather  comments,  the 
folding  doors  were  thrown  open,  revealing  the  parlors 
transformed  into  a  cock-pit  completely,  surrounded  by 
six  rows  of  seats,  rising  one  above  another. 


44  Wonders  ^jJat  City. 

These  were  almost  instantly  filled  by  the  excited 
spectators ;  the  game-keepers  set  sharply  to  work,  and 
boys,  each  with  a  game-cock  under  his  arm,  went  about 
hm'rying  fi'om  tier  to  tier,  attracting  attention  and  se- 
cm-ing  bets  on  Staten  Island  or  Long  Island  bii'ds,  as 
the  case  might  be,  for  a  main  of  cocks  was  to  be  de- 
cided between  these  two  celebrated  breeds.  Presently 
the  hilarity  of  the  betting  subsided,  and  the  judge  of 
the  main  walked  forward  with  a  stately  step  and  as- 
cended to  his  place  in  a  sort  of  pulpit-looking  aif  air  that 
somebody  said  was  bought  at  the  sale  of  the  Morgan 
collection.    The  pit  by  that  time  was  vacated  except 
by  two  game-keepers,  to  whom  was  entrusted  the  prep- 
aration of  the  combatants.    At  a  signal  fi'om  the  judge 
they  placed  the  champions  on  the  ground  and  retired. 
Three  battles  passed  off  ^vithout  exciting  extraordinary 
interest,  but  the  fourth  was  a  struggle  declared  to  be 
unrivaled  in  the  history  of  mains.    To  the  surprise  of 
all,  the  next  bird  upon  whose  glittering  gafEs  hung  the 
glory  of  Long  Island  was  not  the  brown-red  beauty  that 
breed  usually  manifests,  but  a  dull,  dingy  feathered 
fellow,  awkward  too,  and  with  a  shabby,  neglected 
tail.    He  had  not  yet  attained  his  proper  stature,  nor 
his  limbs  their  just  proportions;  even  his  spurs  had  not 
more  than  protruded  through  the  skin  of  his  ankles. 
Nevertheless,  his  step  was  firm  and  his  bearing  fearless, 
and  he  answered  his  keeper's  caress  with  a  look  of 
proud  self-confidence.    The  champion  of  Staten  Island 
— magnificent  pyle — viewed  his  unprepossessing  antag- 
onist with  unmistakable  disgust.    It  was  evident  he 
regarded  him    as  a  common    barn-yard    fowl,  be- 
neath  the   contempt  of   an  aristocratic  game-cock. 
But  on   reflection   he   resolved  to  punish  him  for 


Metropolitan  High  Life. 


45 


his  rash  presumption.  Thus  determining,  he  dropped 
his  head  and  tail  to  a  level  with  his  back  and  darted 
across  the  pit,  aiming  a  death  blow  at  his  devoted 
head.  There  was  something  traly  admirable  in  the 
manner  of  the  Long  Island  champion  as  he  roused  him- 
self from  the  contemplation  of  his  golden  spurs  and 
squared  himself  for  the  onset.  Like  a  great  general 
who  knows  the  poverty  of  his  forces,  he  stood  quietly 
on  the  defensive  imtil  the  sword  was  raised  to  strike 
the  blow,  then  ducked  and  disappeared,  leaving  the 
enemy  to  digest  his  surprise,  while  he  was  dealing  a 
counter-blow  wath  bloody  effect  in  his  unprotected  rear. 
Staten  Island  turned  and  began  another  furious  attack, 
and  this  time  the  Long  Island  champion  maintained  his 
position  and  returned  blow  for  blow.  It  was  not  a  bat- 
tle ;  it  was  a  hurricane,  blood  and  feathers  flying  in  all 
directions.  The  sound  of  sharp  strokes  alone  broke  the 
stillness,  until  a  dismal  cry  was  heard  that  even  dis- 
turbed the  fighting  birds,  although  it  proceeded  fi-om 
neither  of  them,  but  from  an  actor,  who,  in  his  desire 
to  see  the  battle,  had  come  close  enough  to  receive  a 
clot  of  blood  on  his  immaculate  shirt-front. 

The  struggle  was  renewed,  and  a  succession  of  skirm- 
ishes followed,  in  which  Fabius  tried  to  outwit  Hanni- 
bal, and  the  energies  of  both  were  well  nigh  exhausted. 
At  length,  overcome  with  fatigue,  they  abandoned  the 
spur  and  took  to  the  beak,  in  the  use  of  which  the  Long 
Island  knight,  whose  crest  was  low,  had  the  advantage. 
In  this  hand-to-hand  manner  the  battle  went  forward 
until  the  pyle,  weak  from  loss  of  blood  and  weary 
from  exertion,  thrust  his  bleeding  head  under  the 
enemy's  wing.    The  other  vainly  tried  to  dislodge  it. 


46 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


and  then,  as  if  regarding  him  as  a  cowardly  skulker, 
the  Long  Island  champion  stretched  forth  his  long, 
f  eatherless  neck  and  uttered  a  shrill  cock-a-doodle  doo. 
That  was  his  death  cry ;  his  cumiing  opponent,  who 
had  suspended  the  strife  until  he  had,  in  some  measure, 
recovered  his  breath  and  strength,  now  saw  his  oppor- 
tunity, suddenly  darted  from  beneath  the  sheltering 
wing,  and  set  upon  him  with  the  fury  of  annihilation. 
Seizing  him  by  the  back  of  the  head,  he  dealt  blow 
after  blow  in  quick  succession  upon  the  bleeding  breast, 
and  when  his  hold  gave  Avay,  the  Long  Island  bird 
staggered  back  a  few  paces,  swayed  fi^om  side  to  side, 
and  tumbled  lifeless  on  the  ground. 

The  night's  entertainment  was  concluded  in  the  back 
parlor  by  draining  a  few  more  baskets  of  champagne, 
and  a  minuet  dance,  which  for  downright  lewdness, 
would  put  the  Bowery  concert  hells  to  shame.  Such  is 
high  life  in  New  York. 


CHAPTER  III. 
WALL  STREET  IN  OLDEN  TIMES. 


EARLY  SPECULATIONS  IN  THE  STREET — 1670  AND  1870 — GEN.  WASHING- 
TON IN  WALL  STREET — SHARP  FINANCIRING — FEDERAL  HALL— FASH- 
ION IN  WALL  STREET — CURIOUS  COSTUMES  AND  CUSTOMS — SLAVERY — 
WALL  STREET  RELIGION — THE  STREET  AND  THE  BROKERS. 

THE  EARLY  inhabitants  of  the  city  were  in  fear 
of  an  invasion  from  the  restless,  energetic  peo- 
ple, who  lived  in  New  England.  The  Indians 
came  to  their  very  cabin  doors  and  scalped  the  victims 
in  sight  of  their  friends.  As  a  defence,  it  was  re- 
solved to  build  a  wall  at  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  city  running  from  river  to  river.  The  wall  was 
composed  of  stone  and  earth.  It  was  covered  with 
salt  sods.  It  had  a  rampart.  It  was  protected 
by  a  ditch  and  double  stockades.  The  wall  was 
topped  by  palisades  composed  of  posts  twelve  feet 
long  and  six  inches  thick.  These  posts  were  sunk 
three  feet  into  the  ground  and  pointed  at  the 
top.  The  rampart  behind  the  wall,  called  the  Cingel, 
was  prepared  for  cannon.  The  entrance  into  the 
city  was  through  gates,  which  were  wooden  and  very 
heavy.  The  gates  were  closed  at  nine  o'clock  and 
opened  at  sunrise.  The  opening  and  shutting  of  them 
was  announced  by  the  discharge  of  guns.  Along 
this  line  of  fortifications  a  new  street  was  laid  out  in 


48 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


1685,  when  "Dougan  was  Gouarnor  Generall  of  his 
Majesties'  Coll.  of  New  Yorke."  "The  saide  street 
being  laide  out  thirty-six  foot  in  bredth ; — this  service 
being  performed  the  sixteenth  day  of  December."  The 
city  was  guarded  by  watchmen  composed  of  "good 
and  honest  inhabitants."  They  were  on  duty  from 
the  hour  of  nine  till  daybreak.  They  patrolled  the 
city  once  in  each  hour  with  a  bell  in  hand,  proclaim- 
ing the  weather  and  the  hour  of  the  night. 

The  street  laid  out  by  the  side  of  the  wall  took  the 
name  which  it  has  borne  to  the  present  time.  It  was 
the  extreme  northern  limit  of  the  city,  and  soon  be- 
came a  favorite  residence  of  the  uptown  aristocracy. 
The  territory  west  of  Broadway  and  stretching  north, 
was  known  as  the  King's  Farm.  Beyond  the  wall  at 
the  north  and  east  of  Broadway,  were  high  and  pre- 
cipitous hills  occupying  the  site  of  the  Maid's  Path,  as 
Maiden  Lane  was  then  called,  Beekman  street  and  the 
site  of  the  City  Park.  Cattle  herded  in  the  streets, 
and  Broad  street  and  New  street  were  famous  as  sheep 
pastures.  The  city  was  full  of  tan-pits  which  were 
early  voted  a  nuisance  and  ordered  to  be  removed  to 
the  "swamp,"  beyond  the  gates. 


SHARP  FINANCIERING. 

Over  Wall  street  the  genius  of  speculation  seems 
early  to  have  hovered.  The  very  soil  was  friendly  to 
sharp  practice.  The  street  had  hardly  been  laid  out 
before  shrewd  men  commenced  operations.  They 
purchased  large  tracts  for  speculation.  Against  a 
powerful  opposition  they  took  the  Town  Hall,  the  cen- 
tre of  authority,  from  the  Battery  and  brought  it  to 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Times.  49 


Wall  street.  Where  the  Treasury  building  now  stands 
the  City  Hall  reared  its  imposing  front.  Trinity  Parish 
was  induced  to  plant  itself  in  the  new  uptown  location. 
Authority,  fashion,  and  religion  united  to  give  an  early 
celebrity  to  a  street  that  has  become  so  famous  in  all 
parts  of  the  world.  For  two  centuries  the  tower  of 
Trinity  has  chimed  the  hour  of  prayer  and  tolled  the 
passing  bell  at  the  head  of  the  short,  narrow  thorough- 
fare, which  for  centuries  has  been  the  financial  centre 
of  the  continent,  and  made  and  marred  the  fortunes  of 
thousands.  In  1670  as  in  1870  land  was  more  valua- 
ble in  Wall  street  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  city. 
History  does  not  go  back  so  far  as  to  indicate  when 
the  money  changers  began  their  operations  in  this 
famed  locality.  In  every  period  of  the  history  of  New 
York,  Wall  street  has  been  pre-eminent.  As  it  is  to- 
day, so  it  always  has  been.  The  richest  men  in  New 
York  are  Wall  street  operators.  Men  who  live  in  the 
most  costly  dwellings  hail  from  Wall  street.  In  Cen- 
tral Park  the  gayest  equipages,  and  the  most  extrava- 
gant turnouts,  belong  to  brokers.  The  most  costly 
parties,  brilliant  receptions,  elegantly  dressed  ladies, 
the  gay  and  extravagant  at  Saratoga  and  Newport, 
are  connected  with  stock  operations.  In  Wall  street 
will  be  found  the  sharp,  decisive,  keen,  daring  intellect 
of  the  nation.  Its  influence  is  felt  in  every  portion  of 
the  land.  Men  who  "corner"  stocks  in  Wall  street, 
corner  wheat,  flour,  and  pork ;  cotton,  produce,  and 
coal.  They  can  produce  a  panic  in  an  instant,  that 
will  be  felt  like  an  earthquake,  on  the  Pacific  slope, 
sweep  like  a  besom  of  destruction  over  the  great  Lakes; 
be  as  irresistible  on  the  seaboard  as  the  long  roll  of 


50 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


the  Atlantic  beating  with  giant  strength  its  rock-bound 
coast.  A  Wall  street  panic  comes  suddenly  like 
thunder  from  a  clear  sky.  No  shrewdness  can  foresee 
and  no  talent  avert  it.  A  combination  without  a  mo- 
ment's warning  can  be  formed  that  will  sweep  away 
the  fortunes  of  merchants  in  an  hour,  shipwreck  specu- 
lators, ruin  widows  and  orphans,  make  farmers  grow 
pale,  and  harm  every  industrial  and  mechanical  inter- 
est in  the  land.  How  this  is  done ;  how  fortunes  are 
made  and  lost;  who  loses  and  who  wins,  will  be  shown 
in  this  book. 

FEDERAL  HALL. 

Where  the  imposing  granite  building  of  the  United 
States  Treasury  now  stands,  brilliant  in  painting  and 
gilding — stood  the  humbler  building  of  olden  time, 
known  as  the  City  Hall.  It  was  built  of  brick.  The 
first  story  was  open,  like  a  market  paved  and  without 
stalls.  In  the  second  story  was  a  receding  portico 
adorned  with  brick  columns  which  faced  Broad  street. 
This  building  was  the  seat  of  authority.  Here  the 
Courts  were  held,  and  justice  administered.  Its  gar- 
ret was  a  prison  for  debtors.  Its  dungeons,  dark  and 
dreary,  were  for  criminals.  It  had  cages  for  the  des- 
perate. In  and  around  the  City  Hall  were  instruments 
of  punishment  peculiar  to  the  age.  The  whipping- 
post, the  pillory  and  the  stocks,  occupied  a  conspicuous 
place  in  Broad  street.  The  gallows  was  packed  away 
in  the  basement  with  other  implements  of  civilization. 
Where  the  Bulls  and  Bears  now  rage,  culprits  were 
tied  to  the  tail  of  a  cart  and  whipped  up  and  down 
the  street.  This  was  a  favorite  punishment  inflicted 
on  the  Quakers.    They  were  also  fastened  to  a  wheel- 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Times. 


51 


barrow  and  compelled  to  do  menial  work  about  the 
streets.  A  degrading  punishment  was  riding  in  public 
a  wooden  horse.  The  first  culprit  on  whom  this  in- 
famous punishment  was  inflicted  was  a  woman  named 
Mary  Price,  and  she  gave  her  name  to  this  mode  of 
torture.  The  victim  was  lashed  to  the  back  of  a  wooden 
horse  which  was  placed  in  the  bottom  of  a  cart.  Be- 
side the  public  exposure  the  populace  were  privileged 
to  greet  the  procession  with  any  vile  missiles  that  were 
handy. 

While  the  British  held  possession  of  New  York,  the 
City  Hall  was  crowded  with  prisoners  who  were  under 
the  charge  of  a  brute,  named  Sarjeant  Keefe.  On  the 
entrance  of  Washington  into  the  city  the  prisoners 
were  filled  with  alarm,  supposing  that  they  would  all 
be  butchered.  Keefe  was  more  frightened  than  all. 
As  he  was  fleeing  from  his  charge,  the  prisoners  asked 
him:  "What  is  to  become  of  us?"  "You  may  all  go 
to  H — 1,"  was  the  gruff  reply.  "  We  have  had  too  much 
of  your  company  in  this  world,"  they  answered,  "to 
follow  you  to  the  next." 

The  City  Hall  soon  assumed  the  name  of  Federal 
Hall.  From  the  balcony,  fronting  on  Broad  street, 
the  oath  of  ofiice  was  administered  to  Washington  as 
President  of  the  United  States  amid  the  shoutings  of 
assembled  thousands.  In  the  building  where  the  Dutch 
ruled ;  where  that  rule  was  transferred  to  the  English ; 
where  the  City  Government  absorbed  the  authority  of 
the  town ;  where  the  Colonial  rule  gave  place  to  the 
United  States, — there  the  American  nation  began  its 
marvelous  and  irresistible  career. 


52 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


FASHION  IN  WALL  STREET. 

Wall  street  early  became  the  fashionable  centre  of 
New  York.  The  establishment  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment there  made  it  the  Court  end  of  the  town.  In 
the  immediate  vicinity  lived  the  officials,  and  the  fash- 
ionable families  clustered  around  them.  Washington 
did  not  live  in  Wall  street,  but  it  was  the  centre  of 
public  promenades.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  rode  on 
horseback.  There  were  few  coaches  at  that  time.  It 
was  regarded  as  a  mark  of  very  great  prosperity  to  set 
up  a  one-horse  chaise.  Three  houses  are  memorable 
as  having  been  occupied  by  Gen.  Washington.  On  the 
crisp  morning  in  November,  when,  as  General  of  the 
victorious  army,  in  company  with  Adams,  Hamilton, 
Knox,  and  others,  he  moved  through  Broadway  to  the 
City  Hall  and  took  possession,  Washington  had  his 
headquarters  in  the  building  still  standing  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Broad  street  and  Pearl.  The  room  remains  in 
which  warriors  and  eminent  Americans  offered  Wash- 
ington a  crown.  A  dark  cloud  hung  over  the  Ameri- 
can people.  Geographical  disputes  raged  intensely. 
Parties  were  numerous  and  pursued  each  other  with 
intense  bitterness.  No  Government,  it  was  said,  could 
be  formed.  The  black  gulf  of  anarchy  yawned  to  re- 
ceive the  young  nation.  "George  the  first,"  who  had 
led  the  people  to  victory,  could  alone  control  them. 
He  was  in  supreme  command.  He  was  the  idol  of  the 
army.  He  could  rule  as  beneficently  as  a  king  as  he 
had  done  as  a  warrior.  The  crown  was  within  his 
reach.  He  had  but  to  stretch  out  his  hand  and  take 
it..   As  he  placed  it  on  his  head,  the  nation  would 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Times.  53 


ratify  the  act  with  acclamation.  Washington  spurned 
the  insulting  proposal  with  an  indignation  he  did  not 
care  to  conceal.  Congress,  he  said,  was  the  source  of 
all  power,  from  whom  Government  must  proceed.  Lest 
he  might  be  tempted,  on  that  day,  in  the  very  room 
where  the  proposal  was  offered  to  him  that  he  should 
accept  the  throne,  he  wrote  that  memorable  letter  in 
which  he  returned  his  commission  to  Congress,  sheath- 
ed his  sword,  and  retired  to  private  life — to  be  called 
back  to  more  than  kingly  power. 

After  his  inauguration  as  President,  Washington  re- 
sided in  the  building  now  known  as  No.  1,  Broadway. 
Clinton  had  his  headquarters  in  that  house.  In  one  of 
its  small  rooms  Arnold  had  his  first  personal  interview 
with  Andre, — and  like  Judas  at  the  Palace  of  the  High 
Priest,  named  the  price  of  his  treason,  and  struck 
hands  with  the  enemy  of  his  country.  After  he  fled 
from  West  Point,  Arnold  resided  near  the  headquarters 
of  Clinton.  He  was  despised  and  insulted  by  British 
soldiers.  His  house  was  protected  by  troops.  When 
he  appeared  in  the  street  he  was  guarded  by  an  escort. 
He  was  known  in  the  city  as  the  "  Traitor  General." 
While  in  this  refuge  he  met  an  American  officer. 
"  What  would  my  countrymen  do  to  me  if  they  caught 
,me  ?"  asked  Arnold.  The  officer  replied :  ' '  They  would 
cut  off  your  limb  wounded  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and 
bury  it  with  the  honors  of  war.  The  rest  of  your  body 
they  would  hang  on  a  gibbet." 

State  dinners  and  levees  were  held  in  the  Franklin 
House,  at  the  head  of  Cherry  street.  Tea,  coffee,  and 
cake  were  handed  round,  and  here  the  first  American 
court  was  set  up.    At  the  levees,  Washington  wag 


54 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


scrupulously  exact.  He  wore  a  dark  silk  velvet  coat 
of  the  old  cut,  ruffles  at  the  wrist,  lace  cravat,  ruffled 
shirt,  breeches,  black  silk  hose,  low  shoes  with  silver 
buckles.  He  wore  his  hair  powdered  and  in  a  bag. 
A  small  dress  sword  completed  his  costume.  He  gave 
the  key-note  to  fashion.  His  habits  were  very  simple. 
He  rose  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  He  retired  at 
nine  at  night.  On  Saturday  he  rode  out  in  state. 
Then  he  used  his  coach  and  six,  partly  for  style,  partly 
fi-om  necessity.  It  was  the  most  splendid  looking  car- 
riage ever  seen  in  New  York.  It  was  very  large,  and 
gave  the  six  Virginia  bays  attached  to  it  all  they  could 
do  to  draw  it.  It  was  of  cream  color,  globular  in 
shape,  and  ornamented  with  cupids,  festoons  and 
wreaths  arranged  along  the  pan  el- work.  The  win- 
dows were  of  the  best  plate  glass.  The  President  fre- 
quently rode  on  horseback  about  the  city,  but  more 
frequently  took  his  recreation  on  foot.  Even  his  state 
dinners  were  very  simple.  In  a  preserved  letter  we 
find  an  invitation  from  the  President  to  a  dinner.  A 
bill  of  fare  was  then  unknown.  But  the  party  invited 
was  notified  of  the  repast  that  awaited  them.  "  A 
ham,  roast  beef,  small  dish  of  greens,  pies,  if  the  cook 
could  be  made  to  understand  that  apples  will  make 
pies,"  were  promised.  It  was  the  President's  practice 
to  eat  of  but  one  dish.  In  the  absence  of  a  chaplain 
he  himself  said  a  very  short  grace.  After  the  dessert 
one  glass  of  wine  was  passed  round  the  table  and  no 
more.  No  toasts  were  drank.  Immediately  after  the 
wine  was  passed,  the  President  arose  from  the  table, 
the  guests  followed,  and  soon  departed  without  cere- 
mony. Once  a  week  Gen.  Washington  attended  a 
4  3* 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Times.  55 


small  theater  in  John  street.  The  whole  concern,  the 
State-box  and  all,  could  have  been  placed  on  the  stage 
of  the  Academy  of  Music.  Mrs.  Washington's  levees 
were  very  fashionable.  Mrs.  Adams  wished  to  intro- 
duce at  these  levees  of  state  the  French  custom  of  an- 
nouncing visitors.  Mrs.  Washington  consented  with 
great  reluctance,  for  she  knew  the  repugnance  of  the 
General  to  any  attempt  to  ape  the  airs  of  European 
courts.  It  was  agreed  that  the  custom  should  be 
tried  for  once,  and  Mrs.  Adams  undertook  to  engineer 
it  through.  Servants  were  stationed  at  proper  dis- 
tances from  the  main  entrance,  up  the  stairs,  along 
the  corridors  to  the  chamber  of  audience.  Jefferson 
arrived.  His  name  was  announced  at  the  door.  Sup- 
posing some  one  was  calling  him  he  responded: — 
''Here !"  He  heard  his  name  announced  on  the  stairs. 
He  cried: — "Coming!"  He  heard  it  announced  be- 
yond the  corridor.  Annoyed  at  the  pertinacity  with 
which  he  was  called,  he  shouted: — "Fm  coming,  I  tell 
you,  as  soon  as  I  get  my  coat  off;  can't  you  wait 
a  minute?"  The  simplicity  of  Jefferson  covered  Mrs. 
Adams  with  confusion.  The  President  positively  for« 
bade  the  repetition  of  the  ridiculous  service. 

An  Englishman  had  expressed  a  desire  to  see  the 
Sovereign  of  this  country.  He  was  standing  on  the 
steps  of  Federal  Hall,  conversing  with  an  American. 
"I  think  you  have  desired  to  see  our  President,"  said 
the  New  Yorker.  "Do  you  see  that  tall  gentlemac 
coming  this  way  ?  That  is  Gen.  Washington."  "  Can 
it  be  possible,  and  all  alone?  Why  he  has  no  body 
guard,"  said  the  Englishman.  He  had  never  seen  a 
sovereign  in  Europe  who  was  not  surrounded  by  a 


56 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


guard  to  keep  his  subjects  from  being  too  familiar  with 
his  anointed  person.  "  Gen.  Washington  has  the 
most  numerous  body  guard  of  any  sovereign  in  the 
world,"  said  the  American.  "Where  is  his  body 
guard,  I  don't  see  it?"  "Here,"  said  the  New  Yorker, 
placing  his  hand  on  his  breast,  "here  in  my  heart,  and 
in  the  heart  of  every  loyal  American." 

Hamilton's  residence  was  on  the  site  of  the  old  Me- 
chanics' Bank,  on  the  north-west  corner  of  Wall  and 
Water  streets.  Here  he  wrote  his  contributions  to  the 
Federalist  The  Mansion,  down  whose  steps  he  went 
to  fight  the  duel  with  Burr,  was  on  Broadway,  just 
south  of  Wall  street.  His  garden  ran  down  to  New 
Street.  Burr  lived  near  Wall  street,  at  the  corner  of 
Nassau  and  Pine.  Mrs.  Arnold  ran  her  brief,  dashing 
and  ruinous  career  in  this  neighborhood.  She  was  not 
a  suitable  woman  to  make  a  poor  man's  wife,  and  a 
poor  man  Arnold  was.  Goaded  by  her  extra^vagance, 
he  struck  hands  with  the  enemy,  and  attempted  to  sell 
his  country  for  gold.  It  was  the  custom  to  arise  at 
dawn  and  breakfast  immediately.  The  dinner  hour 
was  twelve  exactly.  The  teakettle  was  set  on  the  fire 
and  tea  punctually  furnished  at  three  o'clock.  There 
were  no  dinner  parties.  Going  out  to  tea  was  very 
common,  and  visitors  came  home  before  dark.  In  the 
shades  of  the  evening,  families  sat  out  on  their  stoops, 
saluting  passing  friends,  and  talking  to  neighbors 
across  the  narrow  streets.  The  gutters  ran  in  the 
middle  of  the  street.  Serving  women  wove  short 
gowns  of  green  baize  and  petticoats  of  linsey  w^oolsey 
quilted.  "Tea  water"  was  expensive.  Everything 
had  to  submit  to  scrubbing  and  scouring,  and  dirt  was 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Times. 


57 


not  endured.  Green  tea  and  loaf  sugar  came  in  as 
luxuries  together.  It  was  considered  vulgar  to  dis- 
solve sugar  in  tea.  A  lump  was  placed  by  the  side  of 
each  guest,  and  a  piece  was  nibbled  off  as  the  tea  was 
drank.  One  custom  was  to  tie  a  lump  of  sugar  to  a 
string  suspended  from  the  wall,  which  was  thrown 
from  party  to  party,  each  taking  a  nibble  as  it  passed 
around.  Well-to-do  families  cleansed  their  own  chim- 
neys, prepared  their  own  fuel,  and  bore  homeward  the 
meal  they  were  to  use  for  bread. 

The  first  houses  built  in  Wall  street  were  mostly 
of  wood,  very  rude.  The  chimneys  were  made  of 
board  and  plastered.  The  roofs  were  thatched  with 
reeds,  or  covered  with  canvas.  These  yielded  to 
houses  of  Dutch  brick,  many  of  which  were  glazed  and 
ornamented.  Nearly  every  house  stood  with  gable 
end  to  the  street.  The  windows  were  small,  and  in 
the  better  class,  the  room  was  ceiled  with  oaken  panel- 
work,  which  was  well  waxed.  Many  of  the  dwellings 
had  brick  ends,  the  sides  being  constructed  of  planks 
and  logs.  The  gutters  extended  into  the  street,  and 
poured  their  contents  upon  the  travelers,  for  there 
were  no  sidewalks.  Maiden  Lane,  originally  known 
as  the  Maid's  Path,  obtained  its  name  from  the  custom 
of  young  women  going  out  into  the  fields  to  bleach 
the  family  linen. 

The  furniture  in  the  dwellings  in  Wall  street  in  the 
earlier  time,  in  the  common  houses  was  very  rude. 
Plain  people  used  settees  and  settles,  the  latter  with  a 
bed  concealed  in  the  seat.  Pillows  and  blankets  were 
exposed  as  ornaments  in  the  corner  of  parlors.  Each 
house  contained  an  iron-bound  chest  for  linen.  The 


58 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


settle  maintained  its  place  of  honor  in  the  chimney- 
corner.  In  better  times  the  chimney  was  ornamented 
with  Dutch  tiles.  Pewter  mugs  supplied  the  place  of 
cups.  Settles  were  used  to  guard  the  back  from  wind 
and  cold.  In  wealthy  families,  small  silver  coffee  and 
teapots  were  used,  with  a  silver  tankard  for  toddy. 
Gilded  looking-glasses  and  picture-frames  were  un- 
known. A  huge  chest  of  drawers  ornamented  the 
parlor,  reaching  to  the  ceiling.  These  contained  the 
household  treasures,  and  were  overhauled  before  com- 
pany. No  carpets  were  used,  but  silver  sand  drawn 
into  fanciful  twirls  by  a  broom,  adorned  the  floor. 
Dipped  candles  in  brass  or  copper  candlesticks  lighted 
the  room.  The  walls  were  not  papereo^  but  white- 
washed. 

COSTUMES. 

The  men  and  women  were  stiffly  corseted,  with 
waists  unnaturally  long ;  hips  artificial ;  shoulders  and 
breasts  stuffed ;  and  immense  hoops.  The  women 
wore  no  bonnets ;  high-heeled  shoes,  dresses  open  in 
front,  displaying  a  stout  quilted  petticoat,  sometimes 
of  silk  or  satin,  usually  of  woolen,  were  common. 
The  "  Queen's  night-cap,"  as  it  was  called,  the  style 
always  worn  by  Lady  Washington,  was  in  general 
use.  White  aprons  with  large  pockets,  often  made  of 
silk,  and  of  various  colors,  were  fashionable.  The 
shoes  were  of  cloth.  When  very  stylish  they  were  of 
calfskin.  Ladies  wore  no  veils.  Masks  were  common 
in  the  winter,  with  a  silver  mouth-piece,  by  which 
they  were  retained.  Umbrellas  were  unknown,  but 
ladies  and  gentlemen  wore  "rain-coats."    Visits  of 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Times.  59 


ceremony  by  ladies  were  performed  on  foot,  or  at  best 
on  a  pillion  behind  some  gentleman. 

The  style  of  a  gentleman's  dress  was  a  cocked-hat 
and  wig ;  large  cuffed,  big-skirted  coat,  stiffened  with 
buckram.  The  beaux  had  large  wadded  plaits  in  the 
skirts,  and  cuffs  reaching  to  the  elbow.  Fine  cambric 
linen  stocks  were  secured  by  a  silver  buckle  on  the 
back  of  the  neck.  Ruffles  for  the  bosom  and  sleeves 
were  worn.  Boots  were  unknown,  and  shoes  were 
adorned  with  buckles.  Gold  and  silver  sleeve  buttons 
were  set  with  paste  of  divers  colors.  Boys  wore  wigs, 
and  in  dress  were  miniature  men.  As  a  mark  of 
wealth,  large  silver  buttons  were  worn  on  coats  and 
vests,  with  initials  engraved  on  them.  The  coming  in 
of  French  fashions  in  1793  made  sad  inroads  upon  the 
simple  customs  of  ancient  Wall  street. 

OLD  CUSTOMS. 

The  merchants  of  the  olden  time  were  content  with 
small  shops,  slenderly  stocked.  A  shopkeeper  took 
down  his  own  shutters,  swept  his  warehouse,  and  was 
ready  for  trade  by  the  time  gray  dawn  broke.  A 
bride  and  bridegroom  had  their  hair  arranged,  'by  the 
hands  of  the  barber,  the  afternoon  preceding  the  mar- 
riage, and  usually  slept  in  arm-chairs  that  it  might 
not  be  disturbed.  All  marriages  were  duly  published 
three  weeks  beforehand.  Courting  in  Wall  street  was 
a  very  primitive  matter.  It  was  done  in  the  presence 
of  the  family,  and  the  lover  was  compelled  to  leave 
when  the  bell  struck  nine,  without  a  private  adieu  to 
t.he  damsel.  Doctors  went  on  foot  to  visit  their  pa- 
tients, and  were  allowed  to  charge  only  a  moderate 


60 


Wonders  of  a  GrejlT  City. 


fee.  Women  did  not  attend  funerals.  A  portion  of 
the  burial  service  consisted  of  handing  round  hot- 
spiced  wines  in  the  winter,  and  wine  and  sangeree  in 
the  summer.  Bowling,  dancing,  and  drinking  were 
common  pastimes.  Swearing  and  cursing  in  the  streets 
were  punished  by  fine  and  imprisonment.  Ladies 
never  wore  the  same  dresses  at  work  and  on  visits.  They 
were  very  economical.  A  young  lady,  dressed  gaily 
to  go  abroad  or  to  church,  never  failed  to  take  off  her 
dress  and  put  on  her  home  garb  as  soon  as  she  re- 
turned. On  New  Year's  Day,  cakes,  wine,  and  liquors 
were  offered  to  callers.  Punch  was  offered  in  great 
bowls. 

A  slave  market  stood  in  Wall  street,  near  Water. 
It  was  a  portion  of  the  block-house.  Here  negroes 
and  Indians  were  offered  for  sale.  Slavery  was  a  sort 
of  serfdom.  It  was  a  domestic  institution.  There 
were  no  field  negroes  and  no  negro  quarters.  The 
slave  was  a  part  of  the  family,  scrupulously  baptized 
and  religiously  trained.  The  blacks  were  very  free 
and  familiar,  sauntering  about  the  streets,  joining  the 
whites  at  mealtime  without  removing  their  hats,  and 
entering  familiarly  into  the  conversation  of  those 
around  them.  They  were  treated  at  times  with  much 
severity,  publicly  whipped  if  out  late  at  nights,  or  if 
out  after  dark  without  a  lantern,  noisy  in  their  gam- 
bols, or  caught  gaming  with  copper  pennies.  Thirty- 
nine  lashes  was  the  limit  allowed  by  law.  The  public 
whipper  had  twenty -five  dollars  a  quarter  for  his  ser- 
vices. Every  time  a  slave  was  whipped  his  master  had 
to  pay  three  shillings  to  the  church  warden  as  a  fund 
for  spreading  the  Gospel.     The  slave  market  was 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Times. 


61 


voted  a  nuisance  and  an  offence  to  the  passers  by — 
the  rendezvous  of  the  worthless  and  the  offensive,  and 
was  removed  by  order  of  the  council. 

The  streets  were  narrow,  crooked,  and  roughly 
paved.  There  were  no  sidewalks.  The  gutter  ran  in 
the  middle.  This,  together  with  the  darkness,  made 
locomotion  perilous.  In  1697  an  attempt  was  made 
to  light  the  city.  Housekeepers  were  ordered  to  put 
lights  in  their  front  windows.  During  "  the  dark  time 
of  the  moon,  every  seventh  householder  was  to  hang 
out  a  lantern  and  a  candle  on  a  pole  every  night." 
The  tradition  is,  that  on  the  issuing  of  the  order,  par- 
ties hung  out  a  lantern  without  a  candle.  The  law 
was  then  passed  that  a  candle  should  be  placed  in  tho 
lantern,  but  it  was  not  lighted.  The  law  remedied 
this  defect  by  requiring  the  candle  to  be  lighted.  The 
lantern,  with  the  candle  lighted,  was  hung  out  one 
night  and  then  taken  in.  Then  came  the  statute — 
"every  night."  The  "  Profession  "  were  greatly  an- 
noyed by  the  inroads  of  "  vile  quacks  and  base  pre- 
tenders, who  obliged  true  and  lawful  doctors  "  to  go 
to  the  wall.  The  young  roughs  of  the  city  disturbed 
the  peace  of  the  dwellers  in  Wall  street,  by  their 
pranks  and  lawless  acts  in  stealing  knockers,  and  run- 
ning off  with  signs.  Marriages  were  announced  by 
describing  the  character  of  the  parties  married,  and 
assuring  the  public  that  the  bride  was  an  "agreeable 
young  lady,  possessed  of  every  good  quality  calculated 
to  render  the  marriage  state  completely  happy."  The 
navigation  of  the  East  and  North  Rivers  was  very 
perilous  to  life  and  limb.  From  New  York  to  Brook- 
lyn the  boats  were  mere  scows,  the  passage  often  con- 


62 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


sumed  an  hour,  and  was  often  taken  by  way  of  Gov- 
ernor's Island.  Passengers  were  kept  out  all  night, 
and  nearly  frozen.  Disreputable  persons  dwelt  in  what 
were  then  known  as  "Canvas  houses,"  cheap,  tem- 
porary dwellings,  with  canvas  roofs.  Fortune-tellers 
drove  a  brisk  business.  Conjurors,  using  spells  and 
incantations,  were  very  popular.  Fortunes  were 
sought,  luck  tried,  men  searched  for  hidden  treasures, 
and  dug  for  buried  gold,  as  foolish  and  as  credulous 
as  their  successors  are  in  the  present  age.  The 
Wall  street  men  believed  in  ghosts,  were  scared 
by  dreams,  and  terrified  by  witches.  Riotings  were 
common.  Jay's  treaty  with  Great  Britain  was  es- 
pecially unpopular.  He  was  chased  through  Wall 
street  by  the  excited  populace,  who  accused  him  of 
betraying  his  country  to  the  British.  On  the  steps  of 
the  City  Hall  he  was  wounded  in  the  head  by  stones 
thrown  at  him,  and  was  rescued  only  by  the  great 
popularity  of  Hamilton,  who  stood  by  his  side  and 
calmed  the  turbulence  of  the  mob.  A  terrible  riot 
was  raised  about  the  doctors,  and  the  cry  rang: — 
"Down  with  the  doctors!"  During  the  existence  of 
slavery  the  people  were  in  great  terror  from  fear  of  the 
uprising  of  negroes  and  Indians.  Slavery  in  Wall 
Street  was  a  slumbering  volcano.  The  alarmed  citi- 
zens formed  a  patrol  or  vigilance  committee,  and  kept 
guard  with  lanterns.  Grain  was  not  allowed  to  be 
distilled.  If  a  drunken  man  was  seen  coming  out  of  a 
tavern,  the  innkeeper  was  fined. 

WALL  STREET  RELIGION. 

Religion  followed  in  the  wake  of  fashion  and  moved 
up-town.    In  spite  of  all  resistance,  the  Dutch  Church 


Wall  Street  in  Olden  Iimes.  63 


in  the  Fort  made  an  upward  move,  and  was  located 
near  where  the  Custom  House  now  stands.  Trinity 
Church  placed  herself  on  the  commanding  eminence 
which  she  still  occupies.  The  Presbyterians  took  their 
position  between  Broadway  and  Nassau.  The  humble 
churches  were  content  to  locate  on  the  outskirts.  The 
early  clergymen  were  very  formal  in  their  ofl&cial 
dress.  To  perform  service  without  gown  and  bands, 
or  to  appear  at  a  wedding,  unless  in  full  clerical  cos- 
tume, would  have  been  regarded  as  a  great  indignity. 
The  early  clergymen  were  very  poorly  paid,  and 
school  teaching  was  resorted  to,  with  other  employ- 
ments, to  eke  out  a  scanty  living.  The  morals  of  Wall 
street  were  no  better,  in  the  estimation  of  the  people 
in  .those  days,  than  they  are  now.  An  official  letter, 
sent  to  the  Bishop  of  London  in  1695,  draws  a  sad  pic- 
ture of  religion  and  morals  at  that  time.  According 
to  that  report  the  city  was  given  up  to  wickedness  and 
irreligion.  Few  persons  attended  public  worship,  and 
those  went  to  see  the  fashions,  to  show  their  vain  per- 
sons and  dress,  and  not  to  worship  God.  The  city  was 
filled  with  civil  dissensions.  The  wages  of  workmen 
were  turned  into  drink.  They  idled  their  time  in 
taverns  with  pot-companions,  in  sottish  debauch,  ca- 
rousing and  gaming.  Extravagance  and  idleness 
abounded,  and  marriages,  being  performed  by  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  and  not  by  a  clergyman,  were  not 
considered  binding,  and  were  thrown  off  according  to 
the  whim  or  caprice  of  the  parties.  Wives  were  sold, 
exchanged,  and  abandoned,  and,  if  the  report  is  to  be 
believed,  general  immorality  prevailed. 


64 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


WALL  STREET  AND  THE  BROKERS. 

It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  when  Wall  street  became 
the  financial  center  of  New  York.    In  1792,  the  Ton- 
tine Coffee  House  was  erected  on  the  site  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Bank  of  New  York.     It  was  erected  as  a 
sort  of  joint-stock  concern,  for  the  benefit  of  merchants, 
who  held  their  gatherings  in  its  parlors.    Long  before 
that  period,  however.  Wall  street  was  the  center  of 
the  early  financial  operations  of  the  city.  Govern- 
ment, fashion,  trade,  industrial   arts,   religion,  and 
finance,  from  the  earliest  times,  have  had  their  head- 
quarters in  Wall  street.    But  the  banker  or  broker  of 
less  than  half  a  century  ago  would  not  recognize  the 
old  street,  which  has  almost  wholly  been  rebuilt  with 
some  of  the  most  magnificent  business  edifices  in  the 
city.    The  Custom-House,  formerly  the  Exchange,  the 
United  States  Treasury  and  Assay-Office,  the  Drexel 
building,  numerous  banks  and  splendid  blocks  have 
made  the  street  an  avenue  of  money  palaces;  and 
close  by,  in  lower  Nassau  street,  are  the  handsome 
structures  of  Brown  Brothers  and  other  bankers,  and 
the  new  buildings  of  the  Bank  of  Commerce,  Conti- 
nental Bank,  and  others.    Down-town  New  York  has 
undergone  as  great  a  change  within  a  few  years  as 
any  part  of  the  city. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MODERN  WALL  STEEET. 


THE  MOST  NOTORIOUS  THOROUGHFARE  IN  THE  WORLD — HOW  STOCKS 
ARE  BOUGHT  AND  SOLD — WRANGLES  OF  THE  BULLS  AND  BEARS — 
THE  STOCK  EXCHANGE  AND  ITS  LESSER  ADJUNCTS — IN  THE  CLEAR- 
ING HOUSE — HOW  A  TIGHT  MONET  MARKET  IS  CREATED. 


HE  most  notorious  thorouglif  are  iu  the  world  is 


I  Wall  street.  According  to  Henry  M.  Stanley,  the 
celebrated  journalist  and  explorer,  a  couple  of  American 
missionaries  on  the  Timbuctoo  or  some  other  classical 
African  stream,  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  ferocious  and 
hungry-looking  tribe.  The  missionaries  apprehended 
that  their  captors  were  cannibals,  and  this  apprehen- 
sion was  heightened  by  the  manner  in  which  members 
of  the  tribe  would  feel  of  their  limbso  Finally  one  of 
the  prisoners  appealed  to  the  chief  in  the  language  of 
that  region:  "We  are  American  missionaries  and  have 
harmed  no  one;  let  us  go  our  way  in  peace  and  we  will 
ever  remember  you. "  To  this  petition  the  Mogul  was 
mute,  and  the  poor  spokesman  cried  in  manner  half 
frenzied :  "  You  don't  intend  to  devour  us  ? "  "  Yes, "  was 
the  reply;  "just  like  they  do  in  Wall  street?'^ 

Wall  street  starts  from  the  east  side  of  Broadway, 
opposite  Old  Trinity,  and  its  silver-toned  bell,  and  runs 
in  an  easterly  direction  to  the  East  River    Until  Ex- 


66 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


change  Place  is  readied  the  descent  is  quite  marked,  but 
from  that  point  on  the  slope  is  gentle.  It  is  almost  as 
narrow  as  an  alley  and  does  not  look  at  all  inviting. 
Many  streets  in  the  city  are  more  handsomely  built  up. 
The  prominent  buildings  on  Wall  street  are  the 
United  Bank,  or  "Fort  Sherman,"  northeast  corner  of 
Wall  and  Broadway;  the  Stock  Exchange  Wing,  be- 
tween New  street  and  Broad,  the  United  States  Sub- 
Treasury  and  Assay  office,  northeast  corner  of  Nassau; 
Drexel  Banking  House,  southeast  corner  of  Broad; 
Custom  House,  bet^veen  Exchange  Place  and  William ; 
Bank  of  New  York,  William  and  Wall;  Brown 
Brothers'  Banking  House,  the  Union  Bank  and  the  Old 
Tontine  Building.  It  would  not  be  a  bad  idea  to  take 
a  couple  of  the  streets  on  either  side  of  Wall  and  re- 
christen  them  Wall  street  annexes,  for  everything  they 
are  they  owe  to  Wall  street.  The  apartments  of  the 
heaviest  operators  are  on  the  annexes,  and  so  are  the 
regular  boards  and  gathering  places  for  operators  who 
are  excluded  from  the  regular  market.  In  the  early 
morning.  Wall  street  is  as  quiet  as  Broadway  used  to 
be  of  Sundays,  before  the  "Boodle"  Aldermen  sur- 
rendered that  street  to  street  car  companies.  At  ten 
o'clock,  however,  the  neighborhood  seems  to  awake  and 
the  day's  feverish  whirl  begins.  Business  men  come  in 
droves  and  from  every  direction  and  locality.  Some- 
thing like  one-half  of  those  who  do  business  in  Wall 
street  live  in  Brooklyn,  Jersey  City,  Elizabeth,  Long 
Island,  and  up  the  River,  half  way  to  Albany.  The 
new  style  of  operating  is  very  marked.  The  old 
brokers  and  speculators  were  content  with  small  cham- 
bers, back  rooms,  and  even  with  dens  and  cellars,  bare 


Modern  Wall  Street.  67 


floors,  with  hard  furniture,  coarse  and  without  orna- 
ment. Dark  and  dingy  offices  were  lilled  by  the 
heaviest  operators.  The  richest  men,  and  the  most 
daring  in  speculation  have  no  office  of  their  own. 
Each  has  one  broker,  some  several,  and  when  down 
town  these  millionaires  make  theii'  homes  with  those 
who  buy  and  sell  for  them. 

THE  NEW  AND  THE  OLD. 

As  business  opens  Wall  street  is  full  of  coaches, 
hacks,  and  cabs.  As  it  draws  to  a  close,  the  street  is 
occupied  again  by  vehicles.  The  new  race  of  brokers 
adopt  style.  Some  come  in  their  own  elegant  turn- 
outs, with  servants  in  livery.  Others  hire  coaches  and 
cabs,  and  ride  to  and  from  Wall  street.  Many  do  this 
who  are  as  poor  as  rats,  who,  if  they  have  five  dollars 
spend  half  of  it  for  a  cab,  and  the  other  half  for  a 
lunch  at  Delmonico's.  They  often  borrow  this  sum. 
They  go  home  to  sleep  in  an  attic  or  a  room  in  a  tene- 
ment house,  and  remove  from  week  to  week  to  avoid 
the  payment  of  rent.  The  Chancel  style,  as  it  is  called, 
in  Wall  street,  is  a  modern  thing.  An  old  broker, 
who  had  made  his  fortune  in  prudent  and  honest  specu- 
lations, and  was  content  with  his  small  den  and  green 
baize  table,  left  his  business  with  his  boys  and  went  to 
Europe.  On  his  return  he  found  "his  house"  in  ele- 
gant chambers,  adorned  with  costly  carpets,  plate 
windows,  mirrors,  magnificent  furniture,  walls  frescoed 
in  oil,  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  modern  style.  The 
merchant  was  excited  and  indignant.  He  denounced 
the  extravagance.  The  idea  of  doing  business  in  a 
counting-room  elegant  as  the  chancel  of  a  church  was 


68 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


preposterous.  But  since  the  old  broker  has  found  him- 
self at  home  in  his  Fifth  Avenue  palace,  he  takes 
things  more  quietly.  Besides  Wilton  carpets,  mirrors, 
and  paintings,  modem  brokers  who  maintain  style,  set 
an  elegant  lunch  at  a  cost  of  $5,000  a  year.  To  this 
their  customers  are  invited.  Loafers,  hangers-on,  and 
soldiers  of  fortune,  are  always  ready  to  help  them- 
selves. 

Even  fifty  years  ago,  business  in  New  York  was 
very  unlike  what  it  is  now.  Men  in  mercantile  life 
went  into  business  as  apprentices  at  a  compensation  of 
$50  a  year.  Wholesale  merchants  were  few.  Broad, 
Wall,  and  Pearl  streets,  w^ere  the  business  portions. 
Porters  carried  goods  in  their  hands,  at  a  shilling,  be- 
low Canal  street,  twenty-five  cents  above.  Stoi'e  boys 
were  sent  with  goods  above  Canal  street  to  save  cost. 
The  youngest  boy  went  to  his  master's  house  for  the 
keys  in  the  morning  to  open  the  store,  and  returned 
them  at  night.  Customers  came  to  the  city  to  trade 
four  times  a  year,  and  traders  knew  when  to  expect 
them.  Merchants  used  the  most  rigid  economy,  and 
were  their  own  salesmen,  book-keepers,  and  bankers. 
They  built  the  front  of  their  dwellings  with  one  ma- 
terial, and  saved  a  few  hundred  dollars  by  building  the 
rear  with  a  cheaper  one.  Fifty  years  ago  there  were  not 
a  dozen  two-horse  carriages  in  New  York.  The  city  was 
compact,  and  there  was  little  use  for  them.  Above 
Fourteenth  street  was  beyond  the  "lamp  district."  It 
was  not  lighted  or  policed,  and  people  had  to  take  care 
of  themselves.  Merchants  who  bought  goods  at  auc- 
tion obliged  their  clerks  to  take  them  home  on  their 
shoulders  to  save  portage.    Less  than  sixty  years  ago, 


« 


STOCK  EXCHANGE,  BROAD  STREET, 


Modern  Wall  Street. 


69 


one  of  our  wealthiest  mercliants  of  to-day  debated  witli 
his  brother  whether  it  would  be  prudent  to  pay  $350 
rent  for  a  dwelling  house.  Yet  his  business  then  was 
very  good. 

THE  JSTEW  YOEK  STOCK  EXCHANGE. 

The  fountain  spring  of  Mammon  is  the  Stock  Ex- 
change.   It  is  an  imposing  looking  building  of  white 
marble  and  extends  back  to  New  street  with  an  L  to 
Wall.    Its  four  stories  are  massive  ones,  for  the  roof 
towers  above  the  six  story  buildings  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, while  its  basement  holds  over  two  hundred  mil- 
lions of  dollars  in  stocks  and  securities,  the  property  of 
members.    It  is  no  wonder  that  this  basement  is  guarded 
day  and  night  by  a  squad  of  policemen.    Two  hundred 
million  dollars  would  tempt  even  the  avarice  of  a  So- 
cialist!   This  vast  wealth  is  contained  in  about  nine 
hundred  small  safes  aiTanged  in  tiers.    Each  safe  is 
eighteen  inches  square,  and  is  the  property  of  some  in- 
dividual member  during  his  connection  with  the  Ex- 
change.   During  the  daily  sessions  of  the  Board,  the 
stocks  and  bonds  are  accessible  to  their  owners,  who 
may  barter  them  as  sweet  fancy  may  dictate.  When 
it  was  removed,  some  three  years  ago,  during  the  last 
Wall  street  flurry,  which  was  precipitated  by  that  Na- 
poleon of  modern  finance,  Ferdinand  Ward,  that  Jay 
Gould  was  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy,  the  Exchange 
appointed  a  committee  to  investigate  the  report  It 
was  composed  of  such  men  as  Cyrus  W.  Field,  D.  O. 
Mills  and  Henry  Clews.    They  visited  the  great  rail- 
road wrecker  and  he  showed  them  his  private  office 
littered  with  two  hundred  millions  of  listed  securities. 


70  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Clews  surveyed  the  pile  for  a  few  moments  in  silence 
and  then  waggishly  remarked :  "  Gentlemen,  I  move 
that  we  report  in  favor  of  making  Mr.  Gould  custodian 
of  our  Stock  Exchange  basement,  we  retaining  this 
aggregation  of  stocks  and  bonds  as  a  guarantee  that 
he  ^vill  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office. " 

The  Stock  Exchange  building  is  occupied  by  the  Ex- 
change proper,  the  Mining  Board,  Government  Board 
and  Long  Room.  The  most  popular  department  of 
the  four,  is  the  Long  Room.  It  is  devoted  to  the  ir- 
regular sales  of  stocks,  and  any  person  on  payment  of 
$50  can  secure  an  annual  ticket  of  admission  entitling 
him  to  the  privilege  of  buying  and  selling  independent 
of  the  regular  board.  The  Long  Room  is  reached  by 
the  Broad  street  entrance,  being  situated  on  the  first 
floor.  For  six  hours  a  day  it  is  a  miniature  bedlam. 
Hundreds  of  persons  in  every  condition  of  life,  seem- 
ingly from  millionaire  to  paupers,  are  elbowing  and 
jostling  intent  upon  buying  or  selling  some  stock,  a 
score  of  which  are  changing  hands  every  instant.  The 
irregular  proceedings  are  unintelligible  to  the  novice, 
})ut  the  experienced  seem  perfectly  at  home  amid  the 
din  and  feverish  confusion.  There  are  no  enforced 
laws  in  this  department,  and  buyer  and  seller  must  take 
chances  on  receiving  a  square  deal.  Let  it  be  said  to 
the  credit  of  the  Long  Room  element,  however,  that 
there  is  very  little  downright  swindling. 

Above  the  Long  Room  is  a  mammoth  richly  fur- 
nished, well  ventilated  and  lighted  hall.  At  one  end  is 
a  gallery  capable  of  holding  a  couple  of  hundred  per- 
sons. At  the  opposite  end  is  a  platform  with  desks 
and  blackboards.    On  the  floor,  twelve  or  foui*teen 


Modern  Wall  Street. 


71 


hundred  persons  could,  by  dint  of  squeezing,  find  stand- 
ing room.  This  hall  is  the  home  of  the  Exchange 
Board  with  a  membership,  authorized  by  the  laws  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  of  one  thousand  and  sixty. 
The  cost  of  a  membership  ranges  at  the  present  time, 
all  the  way  from  $12,000  to  $30,000,  owing  to  the 
wealth  of  the  pm^chaser  and  the  necessities  of  the  seller. 
A  sale  of  membershi])  can  only  be  made  with  the 
consent  of  the  Exchange,  and  then  only,  to  persons  of 
sound  financial  worth.  The  control  of  the  Board  is 
vested  in  a  council  of  forty,  of  which  the  President, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  are  ex-officio  members.  The 
council  largely  make  up  the  Committee  on  Admission. 
When  a  member  dies,  his  seat  is  sold,  and  after  the  set- 
tlement of  Exchange  claims  and  dues,  the  remainder 
goes  to  his  estate.  When  a  member  fails,  his  certifi- 
cate is  sold  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors.  The  meth- 
ods of  no  banking  house  are  stricter  than  those  of  the 
Stock  Exchange,  and  no  stocks  can  be  listed  for  sale 
until  they  are  pronounced  legitimate  securities  by  the 
Examining  Committee.  There  are  two  sessions  of 
the  Board  daily — at  10:30  a.  m.,  and  1  p.  m.,  and  the 
order  of  proceedings  are  invariably  the  same.  Two 
lists  of  stocks,  regular  and  free  are  called  each  time,  the 
regular  having  precedence.  It  is  divided  into  five 
parts:  1,  Miscellaneous  Stocks;  2,  Railroad  Stocks;  3, 
State  Bonds ;  4,  City  Stocks ;  5,  Railroad  Bonds.  The 
Vice-President,  who  has  $7,000  per  annum,  calls  the 
session  to  order,  the  Secretary  reads  the  minutes  of  the 
previous  day,  and  ihen  the  work  begins.  Offers  to 
sell  and  purchase  are  yelled  lustily  on  every  hand,  and 
the  Vice-President  notes  all  such  and  communicates 


72 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


them  to  tlie  Secretary.  How  lie  does  it  is  a  mystery. 
The  bids  and  sales  are  posted  on  the  blackboard  and 
the  next  moment  they  are  flashed  all  over  the  country 
by  the  telegraphic  ticker  system.  The  Vice-President 
settles  all  disputes  between  buyer  and  seller,  and  assesses 
fines  upon  the  infractions  members.  One  clerk,  ^vho 
is  called  the  roll  keeper,  sits  by  the  side  of  the  Vice- 
President  and  does  nothing  except  enter  up  fines.  It 
is  no  exaggeration  to  state  that  the  average  broker  pays 
five  hundred  a  year  in  fines,  called  forth  by  persistent 
noisy  demonstrations  during  the  session  and  Board  in- 
fringements. Interrupting  during  a  call  of  stocks  is 
punishable  by  a  fine  of  twenty-five  cents ;  standing  on 
chairs  or  table,  one  dollar;  smashing  a  hat,  one  dollar; 
indulging  in  cat  calls,  hisses  or  gi'oans,  punishable  at 
the  Vice-President's  option. 

The  Government  Board  is  on  the  second  floor.  It  is 
not  so  large  as  the  Exchange  Room,  but  is  fitted  up 
after  the  same  design,  and  its  method  of  procedure  is 
very  similar.  This  Board  deals  only  in  bonds  and  se- 
curities of  the  General  Government.  Interruptions  in 
this  room  are  also  punishable  by  fines.  As  a  rule,  the 
members  of  the  Exchange  are  fairly  well  behaved. 
Wlien  a  new  member  is  admitted,  his  first  appearance 
is  made  the  occasion  of  a  pic-nic.  He  is  tossed  around 
like  a  ball  for  a  few  minutes,  and  generally  has  to  go 
liome  in  a  hack  for  a  new  suit  of  clothes.  September 
15th  is  "White  Hat  Day."  On  Hat  Day,  woe  be 
unto  the  absent-minded  member  who  dares  come 
doAvn  town  with  a  white  or  straw  tile.  He  never  re- 
turns with  it. 

The  Clearing  House  has  much  in  common  with  the 


Modern  Wall  Street. 


?3 


Stock  Exchange,  as  it  f  iirnislies  the  status  of  the  city 
banks.  The  Clearing  House  Association  is  located  at 
No.  14  Pine  Street,  has  a  membership  of  three  score 
banks — every  banking  concern  in  the  city- — represent- 
ing a  capital  of  sixty  millions.  It  is  the  medium  of 
exchange  for  the  various  banks.  The  main  room  con- 
tains a  desk  for  each  bank  which  is  represented  by  two 
clerks.  One  receives  and  signs  all  the  checks  of  his 
bank,  Avhile  the  other  distributes  them  to  the  houses 
entitled  to  them,  or  upon  which  they  are  di^awn.  They 
also  furnish  exact  statements  of  their  banks  to  the 
Clearing  House  manager.  The  daily  transactions  of 
the  Clearing  House,  range  from  seventy-five  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  millions.  S  o  nicely  balanced 
is  the  system  of  exchange,  that  three  millions  daily  set- 
tle the  difference.  Each  bank  indebted  to  the  Clear, 
ing  House  must  send  in  its  check  before  half-past  one 
o'clock.  Creditors  receive  the  Clearing  House  check  at 
the  same  hour,  and  daily  business  is  squared  and  all  ac- 
counts closed  by  half-past  three.  Every  bank  in  the 
city  is  connected  with  the  Clearing  House  by  telegraph, 
and  the  mornins:  work  of  clearing  one  hundred  millions 
only  consumes  ten  minutes  of  time.  Long  before  a 
clerk  could  reach  his  bank  by  walking  from  the  Clear- 
ing House,  its  ofiicials  know  the  exact  state  of  their 
finances,  and  what  loans  may  be  granted  or  refused. 
Through  the  Clearing  House,  every  bank  in  the  city 
is  connected,  and  if  a  doubtful  check  is  presented  or 
paper  to  be  negotiated  is  not  exactly  clear,  the  facts  are 
ascertained  by  one  clerk,  while  another  is  examining  the 
check  or  paper  in  question.  The  operations  of  the  New 
York  Clearing  House  amount  to  over  sixty  per  cent. 


74  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 

of  the  total  exchanges  of  the  twenty-three  Clearing 
Houses  of  the  United  States.  It  boasts  that  no  error 
or  difference  exists  in  its  records.  Heavy  failures  are 
always  foreshadowed  by  the  Clearing  House,  and  when 
it  communicates  the  intelligence  of  one  to  the  Stock 
Exchange,  a  flutter  is  created. 

BULLS  A^fD  BEAES  IN  CONFLICT. 

One  class  of  brokers  have  stocks  to  sell.  They  re- 
sort to  every  means  to  advance  the  price.  They  are 
called  Bulls.  Another  class  have  stocks  to  buy.  They 
resort  to  all  sorts  of  schemes  to  send  stocks  down. 
These  are  Bears.  When  men  come  in  conflict  in  the 
street.  Wall  street  is  a  scene  of  great  excitement. 
When  it  is  known  that  a  contest  is  to  take  place,  the 
Stock  Exchange  is  filled  and  the  Long  Room  i^j  packed 
almost  to  suffocation.  Stocks  are  sometimes  cornered 
and  forced  up  or  down  many  points  during  a  morning 
or  afternoon  session.  During  such  contests,  a  broker's 
office  is  a  suggestive  place.  The  crowds  outside  at 
times  are  so  dense  as  to  almost  blockade  vehicles  and 
pedestrians.  The  wildest  rumors  are  cm'rent.  Great 
concerns  and  possessors  of  millions  are  said  to  be  going 
under,  and  quite  frequently  men  at  a  single  stroke  have 
been  completely  "cleaned  out,''  and  are  left  without 
money  enough  to  buy  a  lunch.  In  the  room  some  rail 
like  mad  men  ;  others  walk  the  floor,  snap  their  Angers^ 
knit  their  brows,  shake  their  heads,  and  mutter  threats. 
Others  in  silence  look  at  a  particular  spot  on  the  floor, 
and  pay  no  attention  to  the  mad  throng  rushing  in  and 
out. 

Beyond  Wall  street,  and  beyond  broker's  offices, 
the  movement  of  Bulls  and  Bears  carries  disaster. 


Modern  Wall  Street. 


75 


Alarm  spreads  through  the  city.  Large  houses  reel, 
and  small  ones  totter  down.  The  entii^e  business  of 
the  country  is  at  the  mercy  of  a  few  recldess  men. 
Shrinkages  in  dry  goods  stores  produce  ruin.  Money 
taken  out  of  cii'culation  tightens  the  market,  and  men 
who  borrow  have  to  pay  from  ninety  to  three  hundred 
and  sixty-five  per  cent,  for  without  money  merchants 
cannot  do  business  long. 

The  new  mode  of  doing  business  intensifies  the  ex- 
citement of  Wall  street.  Stock  operators  have  their 
brokers,  as  business  men  have  their  banks.  Vander- 
bilt  had  no  ofiice  in  Wall  street.  He  was  seldom  there. 
Yet  he  was  one  of  the  heaviest  operators.  He  had  a 
legion  of  runners  who  bought  for  him  while  he  sat  in 
his  little  room  in  Fourth  street ;  he  bous^ht  in  silence 
and  no  one  could  track  him.  Drew  had  a  little  den  of 
a  room  in  the  third  story  of  a  building,  to  which  he 
retired  when  he  wished  to  be  alone.  He  could  gen- 
erally be  found  in  the  ofiice  of  his  principal  broker, 
sitting  on  a  bench  dozing,  or  sound  asleep.  Formerly, 
to  fill  an  order  brokers  attended  the  Stock  Board  in 
person  and  watched  the  market.  Now  they  sit  in  their 
elegant  rooms,  and  communicate  by  telegraph,  or  give 
a  quiet  order  to  messengers  who  disappear  and  make 
the  purchase.  There  is  very  little  talking  in  a  broker's 
ofiice  during  business  hours.  The  rooms  usually  are 
crowded.  Every  click  of  the  machine  carries  fortune 
or  ruin  to  some  one.  Men  get  up,  sit  down,  look  out 
of  the  window,  walk  out  of  the  door,  walk  back, 
smoke,  go  out,  take  a  drink,  discuss  the  chances,  pull 
their  hair,  whistle,  slap  their  hands,  or  break  out  in 
abrupt  expletives.     Outside,  in  stirring  times,  men  are 


76 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


quite  as  excited.  One  day  a  large  crowd  gathered  in 
Wall  street.  Tlie  central  figure  was  a  well  known 
operator  in  Clique  Stocks.  It  is  said  that  he  has  made 
and  lost  more  money  in  speculations  than  any  other 
man  in  New  York  except  Jacob  Little.  He  was  in  the 
middle  of  the  street,  hat  ofE,  face  flushed,  coat  thrown 
back,  gesticulating  with  his  hands,  following  a  well 
known  locker-up  of  greenbacks,  and  was  shouting: 
"There  goes  Shylock!  What's  the  price  of  money, 
Shylock  ?  What's  the  price  of  money  ?  There  he  goes, 
look  at  him,  look  at  Shylock!"  The  shouting,  and  the 
excitement  called  all  heads  to  the  windows  and  filled 
the  street  with  the  rabble,  that  followed  the  parties 
several  blocks.  The  man  who  was  shouting  "Shylock," 
was  one  of  the  coolest,  most  self-possessed  of  men 
usually.  The  man  attacked  was  a  tall,  slim,  fine  look- 
ing person,  very  slightly  moved  by  the  assault.  "What's 
the  price  of  Erie,  Dick?"  "What's  the  price  of  Hud- 
son ? "  was  the  response. 

HOW  STOCKS  AEE  BOUGHT  AND  SOLD. 

The  present  style  of  business  in  the  street  enables  a 
man,  with  a  very  small  sum  of  money,  to  do  a  very 
large  business.  With  $1,000  he  can  purchase  $10,000 
worth  of  stock.  With  $10,000  he  can  purchase  $100,- 
000.  He  leaves  his  order  with  the  broker,  puts  up  his 
"margin,"  and  his  stock  is  bought  and  carried  for  him. 
The  broker  can  well  afford  to  do  this.  He  is  perfectly 
safe,  for  he  has  the  stocks  and  the  margin  as  protection. 
He  has  every  motive  to  induce  his  customers  to  buy 
largely.  He  gets  the  interest  on  his  money  and  a  com- 
mission for  buying  and  selling.  As  his  commission  is 
only  $12.50  on  $10,000,  he  must  do  a  large  business  to 


Modern  Wall  Street, 


11 


make  anything.  Wlien  men  buy  two  millions  of  stock 
the  commissions  amount  to  something.  The  better 
class  of  brokers  are  not  willing  to  have  customers 
who  cannot  back  up  their  sales.  It  is  troublesome  to 
have  to  watch  the  market,  and  it  is  unpleasant  to  sell 
a  customer  out.  As  the  stock  falls,  if  buyers  do  not 
keep  their  margin  good,  the  broker  must  protect  him- 
self by  selling  the  stock,  and  using  up  the  money  de- 
posited. 

Immense  sums  of  money  are  sent  into  the  street  from 
outsiders,  who,  because  they  have  been  successful  in 
dry  goods,  and  other  branches  of  trade,  think  they  can 
turn  $50,000  into  $100,000  in  the  street  as  easily  as 
they  can  draw  a  check.  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten  all 
such  investments  are  lost.  Brokers  of  course  get  cus- 
tomers where  they  can  find  them.  A  man  in  a  successful 
dry  goods  trade  sends  down  a  check  with  an  order  to 
buy  a  hundred  shares  of  a  named  stock,  and  to  carry 
it  thirty  days.  The  stock  begins  to  go  down.  More 
margin  is  called  for.  A  sudden  failure  in  a  mercantile 
house  tells  the  story.  The  other  day  a  merchant  called 
upon  a  broker  in  Wall  street,  handed  him  $50,000, 
and  asked  him  to  invest  it  in  a  stock  named.  "I  will 
do  so,  if  you  wish,"  said  the  broker,  "but  I  advise  you 
to  take  a  good  look  at  your  money,  for  you  will  never 
see  it  again.  I  have  been  in  business  in  Wall  street 
thirty-eight  years.  During  that  time  ninety-eight  out 
of  every  hundred  who  have  put  money  in  the  street 
have  lost  it."  Gamblers  in  stocks  and  bonds  are 
usually  outsiders.  They  are  the  class  who  speculate  in 
lots,  in  flour,  pork,  and  coal.  Men  who  make  "corners," 
or  try  to  make  them,  are  model  merchants,  princely 


78 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


traders,  large  donors  to  philanthropic  institutions,  stand 
higli  in  society,  and  preside  on  the  boards  of  religious 
and  reformatory  meetings.  These  men,  Bull  and  Bear 
stock,  make  merchants  tremble,  increase  the  price  of 
tlie  poor  man's  coal,  lay  a  heavier  tax  on  every  ounce 
of  liread  the  laboring  man  eats,  and  ruin  small  traders. 
These  men  produce  the  panics  of  the  day,  and  not  the 
brokers.  Brokers  fill  orders,  and  regular  houses  do  as 
legitimate  a  business  as  is  done  by  any  department  of 
trade  in  New  York. 

OPERATORS  ON  THE  STREET. 

The  street  operators  may  be  divided  into  three 
classes.  The  first  are  regular  brokers.  In  any  other 
business  they  would  be  called  commission  merchants. 
They  purchase  stocks  for  their  customers  and  are  paid 
a  regular  commission.  They  do  not  speculate  on  their 
own  account.  As  a  class  they  are  honorable,  high- 
minded,  liberal,  and  successful.  Their  business  is  safe 
and  profitable.  When  they  receive  an  order  to  buy 
from  a  customer,  a  margin  of  ten  per  cent,  is  put  up 
and  a  regular  commission  paid.  There  is  no  credit  in 
stocks.  Some  one  must  pay  cash  when  they  are  pur- 
chased. The  broker  pays  the  cash,  holds  the  stocks  as 
security,  and  with  a  small  margin  is  safe.  A  sound 
house  will  not  accept  less  than  ten  per  cent,  margin. 
Except  in  extraordinary  times,  brokers  can  protect 
themselves.  In  some  well  established  houses  the 
business  in  stocks  is  immense,  especially  those  that 
have  the  confidence  of  the  street.  A  young  banking 
house  which  has  been  remarkably  successful,  adopted  at 
the  start  a  few  rules.    One  was  never  to  carry  stock 


Modern  Wall  Street, 


79 


without  a  margin ;  never  to  speculate  in  stocks,  and 
to  do  honestly  a  legitimate  commission  business.  If 
that  led  to  wealth  or  led  elsewhere,  the  house  would 
accept  it.  A  celebrated  capitalist  gave  an  order  for 
the  purchase  of  a  large  amount  of  railroad  stock. 
"Do  you  wish  us  to  carry  it?"  said  the  broker;  "if 
so,  you  must  put  up  a  margin."  "A  margin,"  said 
the  millionaire,  "I  am  worth  a  hundred  times  that 
amount."  "I  have  no  doubt  of  it,"  said  the  broker; 
"we  have  but  one  rule  in  this  office  for  rich  and  poor. 
We  would  not  carry  stock  for  William  B.  Astor  with- 
out a  margin. "  The  man  went  out.  Hangers-on 
shrugged  their  shoulders.  "We  know  that  man," 
said  one ;  he  is  the  heaviest  operator  in  the  country; 
you  have  lost  a  splendid  customer. "  Before  three 
o'clock  a  deposit  came  up  of  $50,000.  The  next  day 
the  capitalist  appeared  in  person.  "Young  men,"  he 
said,  "I  like  your  rule.  You  have  begun  right.  Do 
business  on  that  basis  and  you  will  succeed.  My 
money  is  safe  here;  you  shall  have  my  business  and 
my  influence. "  Brokers  who  are  permanently  suc- 
cessful, and  move  steadily  on  to  fortune,  are  those 
who  are  simply  brokers  and  not  speculators. 

Speculators  ai'e  the  customers  who  employ  brokers. 
They  are  either  adventurers  who  come  into  the  street 
to  try  their  luck,  or  men  who  make  trading  in  stocks 
their  business.  Speculators  do  not  make  money  except 
by  a  turn  as  rare  as  good  luck  at  a  gambling  table, 
unless  they  make  stocks  their  business.  Of  the  count- 
less thousands  who  throng  Wall  Street  from  year  to 
year,  the  great  mass  of  speculators  are  ruined.  Every 
broker  on  Wall  street  has  an  entirely  new  set  of  cus- 


80 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tomers  once  in  three  years.  To  trade  in  stocks  suc- 
cessfully, men  must  be  able  to  keep  their  margin  good 
to  any  extent  or  they  are  ruined.  A  fii'm  in  Wall  st. 
agreed  to  carry  for  a  customer  $600,000  gold.  A 
margin  of  $250,000  was  put  up.  Gold  ran  up  to  $1.65. 
The  house  called  for  $250,000  more  margin.  In  one 
hour  after  the  additional  margin  was  put  up,  gold  drop- 
ped to  $1.30.  The  dealer  swung  from  ruin  by  his 
ability  to  keep  his  margin  good  to  a  profit  of  $180,000 
in  that  transaction.  Men  who  buy  long  and  hold  what 
they  buy,  reap  golden  fortunes.  Tliey  defy  the  fluc- 
tuations of  the  street.  A  combination  of  such  men 
can  corner  stocks,  lock  up  greenbacks,  tighten  the 
money  market,  and  produce  a  panic  in  an  hour  that 
would  shake  the  continent. 

Vanderbilt  was  one  of  this  class — the  only  railroad 
man  in  the  street,  it  is  said,  that  made  money  for  him- 
self and  his  stockholders.  He  went  into  the  market 
and  bought  what  he  chose.  It  was  a  common  thing 
for  him  to  buy  five  millions  of  stock.  He  paid  cash 
for  all  he  bought  and  then  held  it.  In  the  language 
of  the  street,  he  kept  his  stock  in  his  tin  box.  He  had 
no  credit,  and  was  admitted  to  be  the  sharpest  specu- 
lator in  Wall  street.  He  bought  a  controlling  interest 
of  any  stock  he  wished  to  control,  and  held  it;  con- 
trolled the  Central,  Hudson  River,  and  Harlem  rail- 
roads, and  these  were  called  Vanderbilt  stocks.  Men 
who  operated  for  him  were  counted  by  thousands. 
Daniel  Drew  bought  in  immense  quantities.  He  had 
no  office,  but  operated  through  brokers — their  name 
was  legion.  He  did  nothing  himself  on  the  street. 
He  bought  and  sold  on   his  own   judgment,  but 


Modern  Wall  Street. 


81 


through  liis  agents.  He  bought  by  the  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  stock,  and  gold  by  the  million. 
He  was  very  unlike  Vanderbilt.  He  was  not  as 
shrewd,  sharp,  or  successful.  His  gains  were  enor- 
mous, but  his  losses  terrible.  He  very  often  had  to 
draw  his  check  for  $250,000,  and  even  as  high  as 
half  a  million,  to  cover  his  losses.  He  was  not  popu- 
lar, like  Vanderbilt.  He  had  no  special  line  of  oper- 
ation. He  Avas  a  bull  or  a  bear,  as  his  fancy  or 
judgment  dictated. 

Another  class  of  operators  are  brokers  who  unite 
speculation  with  their  regular  business.  It  is  an 
unsafe  combination — one  in  which  a  broker  in  a  crisis 
must  sacrifice  himself  or  his  customers.  Usually  the 
last,  sometimes  both.  The  experience  of  a  quarter 
of  a  century  does  not  point  to  a  single  house  that 
joined  speculation  with  a  commission  business  in 
stock  that  has  not  gone  under.  A  large  house  in  the 
street  was  reputed  to  be  very  wealthy.  The  chief 
of  the  house  was  one  of  the  most  honored  men  in 
the  country,  the  head  of  religious  and  benevolent 
institutions.  He  built  him  one  of  the  most  costly 
mansions  in  the  land — at  an  outlay,  it  is  said,  of  a 
million  'and  a  half  of  dollars.  The  head  of  the 
house  was  the  treasurer  of  a  great  railroad  corpora- 
tion. He  deposited  the  money  of  the  road  with  a 
house  of  w  hich  he  was  a  member.  The  house  failed 
— failed  disastrously — some  said  disreputably.  Men 
were  ruined  right  and  left.  Had  the  United  States 
treasury  failed,  it  would  hardly  have  produced 
greater  consternation.  The  treasurer  of  the  road 
could  not  make  good  the  loss  sustained  by  the  failure 


82  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


of  his  house.  All  the  road  obtained  was  a  mortgage 
on  the  splendid  mansion  for  $850,000.  A  little  later 
the  mansion  would  not  bring  a  quarter  of  a  million 
under  the  hammer. 

This  house,  a  few  years  ago,  was  considered  one 
of  the  strongest  and  wealthiest  on  the  street.  The 
disasters  of  that  terrible  crisis  could  not  have  been 
foreseen  or  anticipated  by  any  shrewdness.  When 
New  York  Central  went  humming  down  from  one 
hundred  and  ninety  to  one  hundred  and  forty-five, 
two-thirds  of  the  capitalists  of  the  city  reeled  under 
the  blow;  when  even  the  clearing  house  was  driven 
to  a  temporary  suspension,  this  great  house  tottered 
and  went  under. 

HOW  A  TIGHT  MONEY  MARKET  WAS  CREATED. 

Large  dealers  in  stocks  have  power  to  create  a 
panic  by  making  what  is  called  a  tight  money  mar- 
ket. They  lock  up  greenbacks  and  gold,  and  produce 
general  distress  and  ruin.  It  requires  a  large  com- 
bination to  do  this  —  men  of  heavy  capital,  of  great 
resources,  who  watch  the  market  and  strike  together 
when  the  right  time  comes.  Ten  men  combining, 
who  could  control  ten  millions,  would  agitate  the 
street.  But  a  combination  able  to  control  twenty 
millions  would  tighten  the  money  market  and  pro- 
duce a  panic.  Money  is  limited.  The  clearing  house 
daily  indicates  the  amount  of  cash  in  circulation. 
All  banks  are  required  to  keep  twenty-five  per  cent, 
of  their  deposits  and  circulation  in  the  bank.  The 
cliques  who  propose  to  tighten  the  money  market 
understand  that.  Some  banks  are  wicked  enough 
to  lend  themselves  to  such  a  combination.  When 


Modern  Wall  Street.  83 


tlie  sclieme  is  ripe  a  well-known  party  goes  to  a  bank 
and  inquires,  "How  mucli  money  have  you  got?" 
"Two  hundred  thousand  dollars,"  is  the  reply.  "I 
want  to  borrow  a  million."  A  million  is  borrowed 
of  a  bank  that  has  but  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
to  loan.  The  interest  is  paid  on  this  million  for  one, 
ben,  or  thirty  days.  A  certified  check  is  taken  by 
the  borrower  and  is  locked  up.  A  million  is  taken 
from  circulation,  for  the  bank  can  make  no  loans,  as 
the  certified  check  may  turn  up  at  any  minute.  Nine- 
teen men  are  doing  the  same  thing  with  nineteen 
other  banks.  Twenty  millions  of  greenbacks  are 
locked  up.  The  money  is  not  taken  from  the  bank; 
it  is  understood  that  it  shall  not  be.  The  bank  with 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars  receives  the  interest 
of  a  million  of  dollars,  keeps  the  money  in  its  own 
vaults,  and  has  parted  with  nothing  but  a  certified 
check.  Speculators  who  have  bought  stocks  cannot 
hold  them,  for  they  have  no  money ;  the  banks  cannot 
discount,  money  cannot  be  borrowed  except  at  ruin- 
ous rates.  The  cliques  who  have  tightened  the  mar- 
ket often  ask  as  high  as  one  per  cent,  a  day  for 
money.  Speculators  have  to  throw  their  stock  on 
the  market,  the  market  tumbles  and  the  combination 
buy  at  their  own  prices. 

Another  method  of  tightening  the  money  market 
is,  by  a  combination  which  wears  a  different  phase, 
though  the  result  is  the  same.  In  this  combination, 
$50,000  controls  a  million.  Twenty  or  thirty  men 
conspire  to  make  money  scarce.  A  party  borrows 
of  a  bank  $50,000  on  one,  or  ten  days.  Interest  is 
paid  and  a  certified  check  taken.    The  money  re- 


84 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


mains  in  the  bank — it  is  effectually  locked  up,  the 
bank  cannot  loan  it,  for  the  certified  check  may  be 
presented  at  any  moment.  This  check  is  taken  to 
another  bank  and  $50,000  borrowed  upon  that.  No 
money  is  removed,  but  a  certified  check  taken  and 
placed  in  another  bank  with  like  results.  So  the 
party  moves  from  bank  to  bank,  till  he  has  locked 
up  a  million  with  his  $50,000.  Each  member  of  the 
clique  is  doing  the  same  thing,  and  a  panic  in  stocks 
follows.  A  third  method  is,  to  draw  greenbacks 
from  the  bank,  seal  them  up  and  keep  them  till  the 
market  is  ripe  for  taking  off  the  pressure.  An  illus- 
tration of  the  power  of  a  clique  to  propose  universal 
ruin  may  be  found  in  the  famous 

"black  FRIDAY." 

The  24th  of  September,  1869,  must  always  be  a 
memorable  day  in  the  history  of  Wall  Street.  On 
the  day  preceding,  three  hundred  and  twenty-four 
millions  five  hundred  and  twenty-four  thousand  in 
gold  was  sold  at  the  gold  board.  On  Friday,  the 
sale  reached  the  high  figure  of  over  five  hundred 
millions.  In  seventeen  minutes — from  11:50  to  12:07 
gold  fell  from  1.60  to  1.30.  In  these  seventeen  min- 
utes tens  of  thousands  of  men  were  ruined.  The 
ruin  swept  through  New  York — up  the  river — up 
and  down  the  Atlantic  coast  —  over  the  great  lakes 
and  prairies — carrying  away  fortunes  like  chaff 
before  the  gale.  One  man  who  stood  talking  with 
a  manager  of  the  gold  board,  in  those  seventeen 
minutes  lost  $300,000.  Without  a  word  he  left  the 
room  and  presented  a  certified  check  in  payment  of 


Modern  Wall  Street. 


85 


tlie  loss  before  two  and  a  half  o'clock.  The  combi- 
nation was  a  small  one,  but  one  of  tbe  most  bold  and 
daring  that  has  ever  been  known  in  the  street.  It 
was  not  the  work  of  brokers  in  the  street,  with  one 
exception,  nor  of  regular  dealers.  The  scheme  was 
planned  and  executed  by  outsiders.  In  nine  cases 
out  of  ten  men  outside  of  the  street  are  the  gamblers 
in  gold  and  stocks.  No  campaign  was  ever  more 
skillfully  planned,  or  gave  greater  promise  of  success, 
than  that  which  marked  Black  Friday.  It  seemed 
to  possess  all  the  elements  of  triumph.  It  had  its 
tools  and  confederates  in  the  very  treasury  itself. 
The  clique  possessed,  or  supposed  it  possessed,  the 
secrets  of  the  government,  and  even  its  future  inten- 
tions. Agents  loitered  about  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  —  dined  and  wined  prominent  men  — 
held  some  officials  in  their  hands,  who,  while  they 
washed  their  fingers  of  all  complicity  with  the  com- 
bination, had  made  nice  little  arrangements  to  profit 
by  the  rise  in  gold.  The  Presidential  Mansion  was 
invaded  and  an  attempt  made  to  involve  the  family 
of  the  President  in  the  unholy  alliance.  Govern- 
ment matters  taken  care  of,  the  next  step  was  to 
tighten  the  money  market.  The  banks  in  this  city 
not  only  kept  on  hand  the  twenty-five  per  cent,  in 
gold  and  currency  which  the  law  demanded,  but  also 
a  margin  of  thirty  millions  additional.  The  clique 
locked  up  the  money  in  the  way  mentioned  in  the 
paragraph  above.  Cash  could  not  be  obtained  even 
at  the  enormous  rate  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-five 
per  cent,  a  year.  A  large  political  organization  were 
in  the  ring  which  sent  gold  up  to  its  destructive 


86 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


height.  Millions  of  the  city  money  were  locked  up, 
a  large  bank  controlled,  and  the  individual  members 
many  of  them  wealthy,  and  more  of  them  influential, 
united  with  speculators  in  the  terrible  work  of  that 
day.  The  combination  boasted  that  on  the  morning 
of  the  24th  of  September  it  controlled  the  mighty 
sum  of  over  two  hundred  millions;  more  than  the 
Rothschilds  ever  controlled  in  one  year. 

The  mighty  men  of  the  Wall  street  of  to-day  are 
not  legion.  They  can  be  readily  named.  Jay  Gould 
heads  the  list.  He  operates  through  his  broker, 
Wash.  Conner,  and  his  money-making  son,  George 
Gould.  The  Vanderbilts  dip  in  now  and  then  for  a 
few  millions.  Cyrus  W.  Field  is  always  on  hand,  he 
and  Go  aid  practically  absorbing  Western  Union  stocks. 
Sam  Sloan,  of  the  Lackawanna;  Sidney  Dillon,  of  the 
Union  Pacific;  John  W.  Mackay,  of  bonanza  fame, 
with  his  telegraph  schemes;  Russell  Sage,  Addison 
Commack,  Henry  Clews,  Roswell  R  Flower,  D.  O. 
Mills,  Norm.  Ream,  W.  I.  Hutchinson,  W.  R.  Grace, 
George  J.  Seney,  C.  P.  Huntington,  D.  E.  Sulley,  Austin 
Corbin,  W.  L.  Scott,  A.  B.  Stockwell,  and  the  Armours. 
There  have  been  no  great  corners  of  recent  months,  and 
Wall  street  has  consequently  been  in  a  semi-comatose 
condition.  But  at  any  moment  the  storm  is  liable  to 
burst.  There  is  naught  but  fancied  security  for  the 
speculators  in  stocks  and  bonds. 


CHAPTER  V. 


SPECULATION  AND  ITS  FRUITS. 

A  FEW  OBSERVATIONS  AS  TO  THE  CAUSES  WHICH  INDUCE  MEN  TO  ENTER 
WALL  STREET — A  CASE  IN  POINT — NO  MORAL  PRINCIPLE — ONE  NOTED 
FRAUD — PERILS  OF  SPECULATION. 

IN  ALL  new  departures  there  must  be  an  incentive. 
The  experiment  is  not  tried  for  the  momentary 
pleasure  of  the  triaL  There  never  was  a  person  so  ad- 
venturous that  he  would  plunge  headlong  into  a  new 
field,  without  first  determining  the  cost  and  the  possible 
benefits  to  be  derived  by  the  plunge.  So  it  is  with 
every  human  bark  which  has  dashed  to  pieces  in  the 
fearful  Wall  street  maelstrom.  The  haste  to  be  rich 
by  a  lucky  whirl  of  fortune's  wheel,  first  lures  men  to 
the  field  of  gold,  where  bulls  and  bears  do  endless  con- 
flict. It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  scores  of  victims 
move  into  the  street  daily  to  try  their  fortune,  each 
and  every  one  confident  that  he  or  she,  as  the  case  may 
be,  has  only  to  make  the  attempt  and  rich  remune- 
ration will  be  the  reward.  Money  earned  in  the 
western  mines,  on  the  cattle  ranges,  the  great  water 
and  iron  ways  of  the  country,  or  from  the  store,  shop 
or  ship,  goes  into  the  same  channel.  The  surplus  of  a 
successful  season  in  trade,  the  hard  earnings  of  a  clerk 


88 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


or  mechanic  whose  wife  wishes  to  swell  about  a  bit  at 
Long  Branch,  Newport  or  the  Springs,  the  wife's  dower 
that  should  be  put  down  in  government  securities,  the 
pittance  of  the  orphan — by  which  it  is  hoped  that  one 
thousand  will  increase  to  ten,  if  not  to  hundreds — are 
hazarded  in  stock  speculations.  However  honest  and 
regular  as  a  class  brokers  may  be,  the  gambling  mania 
centering  in  Wall  street  sweeps  like  the  simoom  of  the 
desert  over  every  section  of  our  land.  The  whole  busi- 
ness of  the  country  has  been  shaken  and  blown  fi'om 
its  center,  and  trade  generally  partakes  of  the  excite- 
ment and  fluctuation  of  stocks  in  the  market.  A  man 
who  goes  into  Wall  street  to  do  business,  goes  mth 
his  eyes  open.  He  knows,  or  may  know,  that  he  is  at 
the  mercy  of  a  dozen  unscrupulous  men  who  can  swal- 
low him  up  in  an  hour  if  they  will.  Among  the 
thousand  small  brokers  of  the  street,  there  is  a  perfect 
understanding  that  any  one  of  them  may  go  home  pen- 
niless before  night.  The  same  combinations  that  lock 
up  greenbacks  and  corner  railroads  in  the  street,  strike 
trade  in  every  direction.  Wheat  and  corn  are  subject 
to  the  same  fluctuation  and  uncertainty  that  attends 
stock.  A  speculator  in  the  street  gets  a  private  tele- 
gram that  grain  is  scarce,  or  corn  heated,  or  some  news 
that  affects  the  market.  He  goes  immediately  to  the 
Broadway  Exchange  and  bulls  and  bears  grain  as  he 
would  stocks.  The  same  men  monopolize  coal.  The 
market  is  entirely  bought  up,  or  the  miners  are  paid 
daily  wages  to  go  on  a  strike. 

A  CASE  m  POINT. 

Dry  goods  are  as  sensitive  and  as  much  subject  to 


Speculation  and  its  Fruits. 


89 


the  gambling  mania  as  money.  Extravagant  hotels,  aris- 
tocratic groceries,  from  which  goods  are  delivered  by 
servants  in  livery,  enormous  drinking  places  fitted  up 
like  a  royal  palace,  bespeak  the  extravagance  of  the 
age.  In  the  vicinity  of  Madison  Square  a  snobby  spec- 
ulator, some  time  ago,  set  up  a  then  princely  mansion. 
It  was  brown  stone  in  front,  and  radiant  in  gold  and 
gilt.  It  was  furnished  sumptuously  with  gold  gilt 
rosewood  furniture,  satin  coverings  woven  in  gold  and 
imported  from  Paris,  carpets  more  costly  than  were 
ever  before  laid  in  the  city,  and  all  the  appliances  of 
fashion,  wealth,  and  taste,  were  included  in  the  adorn- 
ment. It  was  a  nine  day's  wonder  of  the  city,  and, 
like  other  experiments  of  the  same  sort,  it  came  to  an 
end.  The  furniture  was  brought  to  the  block  and  the 
family  disappeared  from  among  the  aristocracy  of  the 
city.  A  new  sensation  awaited  the  curious.  The  splen- 
did mansion  was  to  be  turned  into  a  first-class  dry 
goods  store.  It  would  outrival  Stewart  and  Claflin, 
and  nothing  to  equal  it  would  be  found  in  London  or 
Paris.  The  whole  front  was  torn  out  and  the  building 
fitted  up  with  plate  glass,  and  made  gorgeous  as  the 
reception  room  of  a  sovereign.  Rumor  ascribed  to  the 
firm  untold  wealth,  so  that  should  they  sink  one  or 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  establishing  trade,  it 
would  not  embarrass  or  discourage  the  house.  The 
opening  day  came,  and  such  a  sight  New  York  never 
saw.  All  the  stories  were  thrown  open.  The  business 
was  in  apartments  and  gorgeously  fitted  up.  An  army 
of  salesmen  and  clerks  were  in  their  places,  arrayed  in 
full  evening  dress,  wath  Avhite  gloves.  All  New  York 
poured  in,  as  it  would  have  done  to  have  seen  the  pro- 


90 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


prietors  hanged — and  then  turned  away  as  fashionable 
New  York  will,  leaving  the  concern  high  and  diy  like 
a  vessel  on  the  beach.  A  disastrous  failure  followed, 
and  the  ruined  speculators,  satisfied  that  New  York 
was  not  a  theatre  for  their  genius  retired.  Three 
hundred  thousand  dollars  could  not  have  been  lost 
more  artistically  in  Wall  street. 

NO  MOKAL  PEmCIPLE. 

Gambling  and  moral  principle  are  not  yoke  fellows. 
The  very  style  of  business  done  in  the  street  blunts 
the  moral  sense.  When  Swarthwout  embezzled  the 
Government  funds  and  gave  his  name  to  a  system  of 
swindling  which  has  become  so  disgracefully  common, 
he  stood  alone  in  his  disgraceful  eminence.  To-day 
gigantic  frauds,  embezzlements,  and  robberies,  are  so 
common  that  but  little  attention  is  paid  to  the  revela- 
tions. The  papers  are  full  of  instances  of  trusted  and 
honored  men  who  commit  great  fi^auds.  A  small  por- 
tion only  of  such  crimes  come  to  the  sui-face.  The 
afEair  is  hushed  up  to  prevent  family  disgrace.  A  cor- 
poration threatened  wath  the  loss  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  or  more  by  the  roguery  of  an  ofiicial,  had 
rather  take  the  money  fi'om  a  friend  than  lock  up  the 
criminal.  Thousands  of  companies  sprung  up  during 
the  oil  speculations.  Full  tw^o-thirds  of  these  Avere 
frauds,  and  dupes  and  victims  swindled  on  the  right 
and  on  the  left,  were  counted  by  thousands.  Men  who 
went  to  bed  supposing  that  they  were  worth  a  quarter 
of  a  million,  awoke  in  the  morning  to  find  that  they 
had  been  swindled  out  of  all  their  money,  and  were 
beggars. 


Speculation  and  its  Bruits.  91 


The  spirit  infects  nearly  all  the  officials  of  the  gov- 
ernment to-day.  The  money  stolen  by  men  in  public 
places  is  lost  in  Wall  street  or  squandered  at  the 
gaming  table.  Not  long  since  one  of  the  best  known 
business  men  was  suddenly  killed  on  a  train  of  cars. 
No  man  stood  higher  in  the  church  or  state.  He  had 
immense  sums  of  trust  money  in  his  hands  belonging 
to  widows  and  orphans,  and  religious  associations ;  for 
he  was  thought  safer  than  any  savings  bank.  He  was 
a  fine  looking  man,  cheery  in  spirit,  agreeable  in  man- 
ner. He  was  supposed  to  be  the  embodiment  of  in- 
tegrity and  fidelity.  His  sudden  death  brought  his 
affairs  to  the  surface.  He  was  found  to  be  a  defaulter 
to  an  immense  amount.  He  had  taken  the  funds  of 
widows  and  orphans  and  sunk  them  in  the  maelstrom 
of  Wall  street.  Instead  of  leaving  his  family  a 
princely  fortune,  he  left  his  wife  and  children  dishon- 
ored and  ruined.  In  the  olden  time,  a  merchant 
would  no  more  have  used  trust  money  in  his  own 
business  than  he  would  have  committed  any  other 
great  crime.  At  the  head  of  one  of  our  largest  and 
most  successful  banks  was  a  gentleman  who  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century  had  the  established  reputation 
which  high  honor,  business  talent,  and  honest  devo- 
tion to  his  pursuits,  give.  His  habits  were  simple, 
his  house  modest,  and  his  style  of  living  much  below 
his  position.  He  left  the  bank  one  night  at  the  usual 
time,  bidding  his  associates  a  cheery  good  evening. 
He  did  not  return ;  he  has  never  returned.  On  exam- 
ining his  accounts,  it  was  found  that  he  was  a  heavy 
defaulter.  Not  content  with  his  salary  and  his  busi- 
ness, anxious  to  secure  a  fortune  which  could  be  had 


92  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


for  tlie  taking,  he  put  himself  into  the  hands  of  stock 
gamblers.  He  squandered  his  own  money,  and  the 
fortune  of  his  wife,  sold  bonds  placed  in  the  bank  for 
safe  keeping,  and  speculated  with  and  lost  the  funds 
of  depositors.  He  carried  nothing  with  him,  but  fled 
from  his  home  a  poor  as  well  as  a  disgraced  man  — 
bankrupt  in  fortune,  integrity,  and  all. 

The  frequent  and  glaring  crimes  connected  with  stock 
gambling  do  not  alarm  the  community.  Some  regard 
the  revelations  as  a  good  joke,  or  a  sharp  hit.  Men 
wonder  how  much  the  party  made,  and  often  consider 
the  criminal  a  fool  for  not  doing  better.  Bets  are  fre- 
quently put  up  as  to  the  amounts  taken;  if  the  robbery 
runs  up  to  a  hundred  or  two  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
then  the  speculation  is  as  to  how  much  the  defaulter 
will  return  to  have  the  matter  hushed  up.  To  show 
how  little  public  morality  there  is,  take  an  incident : 
I  was  present  not  long  since  at  a  convention  held  under 
the  auspices  of  one  of  the  leading  religious  denomina- 
tions of  the  State.  A  prominent  pastor  of  this  city  accused 
another  of  stating  things  that  were  wholly  false,  both 
on  the  floor  of  the  meeting  and  outside.  Other  emin- 
ent men  confirmed  the  statement,  one  of  whom  said 
that  the  pastor  was  notorious  for  his  "conspicuous  inac- 
curacies." The  whole  thing  was  treated  as  a  good 
joke.  The  party  accused  was  covered  with  confusion 
and  could  not  reply.  The  convention  were  very  merry 
over  his  embarrassment.  Twenty-five  years  ago,  had 
a  New  York  pastor  been  accused  of  falsehood  in  an 
assembly  and  confessed  it  by  his  silence,  the  whole 
religious  world  would  have  been  agitated.  One  of 
our  banks  was  robbed,  and  it  put  its  loss  at  twenty- 


Speculation  and  its  Fruits.  93 


five  thousand  dollars.  The  community  didn't  believe 
a  word  of  it,  and  the  community  were  right.  Another 
bank,  which  had  lost  heavily  by  a  defaulting  cashier, 
made  an  official  statement  that  its  loss  would  not  ex- 
ceed one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  A  few  years  ago 
such  a  statement  signed  by  bank  officers  would  have 
received  implicit  credit.  Not  only  the  press  placed 
no  reliance  in  such  official  statement,  but  the  discus- 
sions in  the  banks  and  on  'Change  showed  the  want 
of  confidence  in  such  matters.  In  this  age  of  demor- 
alization, wdien  everything  is  unsettled  morally,  and 
everybody  is  at  sea ;  when  checks,  notes  and  bonds  have 
to  be  examined  with  a  microscope  to  see  whether  they 
are  forged  or  altered,  when  the  recklessness,  infatua- 
tion and  madness  of  Monaco  pervade  every  depart- 
jaent  of  business,  it  is  no  Avonder  that  so  many  go 
wrong.  They  would  scarcely  be  flesh  and  blood  if 
they  did  not.  Were  all  honest  under  such  surround- 
ings, it  would  be  time  for  the  millenium. 

THE  IlMFxVTUATION. 

Men  who  have  had  a  taste  of  the  street  cannot  be 
kept  from  their  favorite  haunts.  I  sat  in  the  office  of 
a  gentleman  the  other  day,  who,  six  months  ago,  was 
a  rich  man.  For  twenty-five  years  he  has  done  a  suc- 
cessful business,  and  at  no  time  has  known  financial 
embarrassment.  He  lived  in  luxury  in  a  city  and 
country  home.  It  was  his  boast  that  he  never  gave  a 
note,  incuri'ed  a  debt,  or  failed  to  have  his  check  hon- 
ored for  any  amount  needed.  A  nice  little  scheme 
was  presented  to  him  by  some  confidential  friends. 
It  w^as  a  time  of  general  excitement.    The  specula- 


94 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tion  was  such  a  nice  one,  and  the  gain  so  certain  and 
large,  that  the  man  placed  his  name  at  the  disposal 
of  the  combination,  and,  of  course,  was  ruined.  It 
took  him  twelve  hours  to  scatter  the  labor  of  twenty- 
four  years.  Some  spiritualists  got  hold  of  a  capitalist 
not  long  since.  He  had  half  a  million  to  invest,  and 
he  did  it  in  original  style.  Having  great  confidence 
in  Webster  and  Clay  while  they  lived,  he  thought 
they  might  have  a  better  acquaintance  with  financial 
matters  in  the  spirit  land  than  they  exhibited  when 
they  lived.  Through  parties  competent  to  do  it,  he 
opened  communications  with  those  distinguished 
statesmen.  They  seemed  very  ready  to  assist  him  in 
his  speculations.  They  wrote  him  long  communica- 
tions through  his  mediums,  which  he  read  to  his 
friends.  It  was  observed  that  Clay's  intellect  seemed 
to  be  a  little  shaken  since  his  departure,  and  Web- 
ster was  more  diifuse  and  less  compact  and  senten- 
tious than  when  in  the  land  of  the  living.  It  was 
also  very  apparent  that  these  distinguished  gentle- 
men in  the  spirit  land  did  not  know  much  about  the 
affairs  in  this  world,  for  the  speculations  proved 
most  ruinous.  They  tied  up  the  good  man's  fortune, 
and  well  nigh  beggared  him.  But  his  confidence  in 
the  ability  of  Webster  and  Clay  to  guide  him  to 
untold  wealth  is  unshaken.  How  uncertain  specu- 
lation is  may  be  learned  from  an  answer  given  by 
one  of  our  oldest  and  most  successful  brokers  to  a 
friend.  "I  have  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  invest," 
said  the  man  to  the  dealer  in  stocks,  "what  w^ould 
you  advise  me  to  do  ?"  The  broker  pointed  his  finger 
at  a  donkey  cart  going  by,  loaded  with  ashes.  "Go 


Speculation  and  its  Fruits.  95 


and  ask  that  man  driving  the  ash  cart,"  said  the 
broker ;  "he  knows  as  much  about  it  as  I  do. "  When 
the  oldest,  the  shrewdest,  and  the  most  successful 
operators  lose  from  fifty  thousand  to  half  a  million 
at  a  bluw,  what  can  small  speculators  expect?  Yet 
the  infatuation  continues.  Seedy  men  hang  around 
their  old  haunts,  waiting  for  something  to  turn  up. 
There  is  an  old  man  nearly  eighty,  who  can  be  seen 
daily  in  Wall  street,  who  is  as  infatuated  as  any  gam- 
bler in  the  world.  He  was  accounted  a  millionaire  a 
few  months  ago.  Naturally  cool,  selfish,  and  self- 
reliant,  a  mania  seemed  to  have  possessed  him.  He 
promised  over  and  over  again  to  leave  the  street. 
Everybody  saw  that  he  was  going  to  ruin.  One 
morning  he  came  do^\ai,  made  a  plunge,  lost  every- 
thing, and  has  gone  home  to  die — a  type  of  tribes 
who  dabble  in  stock. 

SHAEP  PRACTICE. 

The  sudden  collapse  of  fortunes,  closing  of  elegant 
mansions,  the  selling  off  of  plate  and  horses  at  auc- 
tion, the  hurling  of  men  down  from  first-class  posi- 
tions to  subordinate  posts,  is  an  every  day  occurrence 
in  New  York.  In  almost  every  case  these  reverses 
result  from  outside  trading,  and  meddling  with 
matters  foreign  to  one's  legitimate  business.  The 
city  is  full  of  sharp  rogues  and  unprincipled  specu- 
lators, who  lie  awake  nights  to  catch  the  unwary. 
None,  it  seems,  are  more  easily  ensnared  than  hotel- 
keepers,  and  this  is  the  way  it  is  done :  A  well- 
dressed,  good-looking  man  comes  into  a  hotel  and 
brings  his  card  as  the  president  of  some  great  stock 


96 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


company.  In  a  careless,  indifferent  way  he  asks  to 
look  at  a  suite  of  rooms.  He  has  previously  ascer- 
tained that  the  proprietor  has  a  few  thousand  dollars 
in  the  bank,  waiting  for  something  to  turn  up.  The 
rooms  shown  are  not  good  enough.  He  wants  rooms 
that  will  accommodate  certain  distinguished  gen- 
tlemen, whom  he  names,  who  happen  to  be  the  well- 
known  leading  financiers  of  the  great  cities.  A 
better  suite  is  shown  the  president.  The  cost  is 
high — one  thousand  dollars  a  month.  But  the  rooms 
suit ;  he  must  accommodate  his  friends ;  a  few  thou- 
sands one  way  or  the  other  won't  make  much  differ- 
ence with  his  company.  So  he  concludes  to  take  the 
rooms.  The  landlord  hints  at  references ;  the  presi- 
dent chuckles  at  the  idea ;  but  if  the  landlord  wants 
one  or  two  thousand  dollars,  he  can  have  it.  "Let 
me  see,"  the  president  says,  very  coolly,  "I  shall  want 
these  rooms  about  six  months,  off  and  on.  I  may 
be  gone  half  the  time,  or  more.  If  it's  any  accom- 
modation to  you,  I  will  give  you  my  check  for  six 
thousand  dollars,  and  pay  the  whole  thing  up. "  Of 
course  the  landlord  is  all  smiles,  and  the  president 
takes  possession.  Before  the  six  months  are  out,  the 
lion's  share  of  the  landlord's  money  goes  into  the 
hands  of  the  speculator,  and  a  lot  of  worthless  stock 
is  locked  up  in  the  safe  of  the  hotel. 

Another  scheme  is  equally  successful.  The  rooms 
are  taken,  and  the  occupant  is  the  most  liberal  of 
guests.  Champagne  suppers  and  costly  viands  are  or- 
dered without  stint,  and  promptly  paid  for.  Coaches 
with  liveried  drivers  and  footmen,  hired  for  the  occa- 
sion, leave  imposing  cards  at  the  hotel.    The  obse- 


Speculation  -and  its  Fruits. 


97 


quious  landlord  and  well-fed  steward  pay  especial 
attention  to  tlie  wants  of  tlie  liberal  guest.  Wait- 
ers fly  at  his  command,  and  tlie  choicest  viands  are 
placed  before  him.  Picking  his  teeth  after  break- 
fast while  the  landlord  is  chatting  with  him  some 
Saturday  morning  when  it  rains,  he  expresses  a 
wish,  rather  indifferently,  that  he  had  ten  thousand 
dollars.  His  banker  won't  be  home  till  Monday — 
don't  care  much  about  it — get  it  easy  enough  going 
down  town — wouldn't  go  out  in  the  rain  for  twice 
the  sum — indifferent  about  it,  but  evidently  annoyed. 
The  landlord  goes  into  his  office  and  examines  his 
bank  account,  and  finds  he  can  spare  a  few  thou: 
sand  without  any  inconvenience,  till  Monday.  Glad 
to  accommodate  his  distinguished  guest,  who  is  going 
to  bring  all  the  moneyed  men  to  his  hotel,  he  hands 
over  the  money,  which  is  refused  two  or  three  times 
before  it  is  taken.  On  Monday  morning  the  hotel 
man  finds  that  his  distinguished  tenant  has  put  a 
Sabbath  between  himself  and  pursuit.  Such  tricks 
are  played  constantly,  and  new  victims  are  found 
every  day. 

THE  STREET  ON  THE  OUTSIDE. 

Men  who  visit  New  York,  and  see  nothing  but 
the  outside  aspect  which  it  presents,  imagine  that 
success  is  one  of  the  easiest  things  in  the  world, 
and  to  heap  up  riches  a  mere  pastime  in  the  city. 
They  are  familiar  with  the  name  and  history  of  the 
Astors.  They  know  that  Stewart  began  life  a  poor 
boy,  kept  store  in  a  small  shanty,  and  kept  house 
in  a  few  rooms  in  a  dwelling,  and  boarded  his  help. 


98  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


They  walk  through  Fifth  Avenue,  and  look  on  the 
outside  of  palaces  where  men  dwell  who  left  home 
a  few  years  ago  with  their  worldly  wealth  tied  up 
in  a  cotton  handkerchief.  They  stroll  around  Cen- 
tral Park,  and  magnificent  teams,  gay  equipages, 
and  gayer  ladies  and  gentlemen,  go  by  in  a  constant 
stream ;  and  men  are  pointed  out  who  a  short  time 
ago  were  grooms,  coachmen,  ticket-takers,  boot- 
blacks, news-boys,  printers'  devils,  porters,  and  coal- 
heavers,  who  have  come  up  from  the  lower  walks 
of  life  by  dabbling  in  stocks,  by  a  lucky  specula- 
tion, or  a  sudden  turn  of  fortune.  So  young  men 
pour  in  from  the  country,  confident  of  success,  and 
ignorant  that  these  men  are  the  exceptions  to  the 
general  law  of  trade ;  and  that  ruin  and  not  suc- 
cess, defeat  and  not  fortune,  bankruptcy  and  not  a 
fine  competence,  are  the  law  of  New  York  trade. 

Nothing  is  more  striking  or  more  sad  than  the 
commercial  reverses  of  this  city.  They  come  like 
tempests  and  hail  storms  which  threaten  every 
man's  plantation,  and  cut  down  the  harvest  ready 
for  the  sickle.  Few  firms  have  had  permanent  suc- 
cess for  twenty-five  years.  In  one  house  in  this  city 
twenty  men  are  employed  as  salesmen  on  a  salary, 
who,  ten  years  ago,  were  called  princely  merchants, 
whose  families  lived  in  style,  and  who  led  the 
fashions.  Men  who  embark  on  the  treacherous  sea 
of  mercantile  life  are  ingulfed,  and  while  their 
richly-laden  barks  go  down,  they  escape  personally 
by  the  masts  and  spars  thrown  to  them  by  more 
fortunate  adventurers.  One  house  in  this  city,  quite 
as  celebrated  at  one  time  as  Stewart's,  who,  in  imi- 


Speculation  and  its  Fruits.  99 


tation  of  that  gentleman,  built  their  marble  store 
on  Broadway,  are  now  salesmen  of  establishments 
more  successful  than  their  own.  New  York  is  full 
of  reduced  merchants.  Some  of  them  bravely  bear 
up  under  their  reverses.  Some  hide  away  in  the 
multitude  of  our  people.  Some  take  rooms  in  ten- 
ant-houses. Some  do  a  little  brokerage  business, 
given  to  them  by  those  who  knew  them  in  better 
days.  Some  take  to  the  bottle,  and  add  moral  to 
commercial  ruin. 

THE  SCHTJTLEE  FEAUD. 

One  of  the  most  successful  railroad  men  of  New 
York  boarded  at  one  of  our  principal  hotels.  He 
was  an  unmarried  man.  He  was  accounted  an  emi- 
nent and  successful  financier.  His  reputation  and 
standing  were  unquestioned.  He  was  connected 
with  the  principal  capitalist  in  the  city,  and  was 
one  whom  New  York  delighted  to  honor.  In  a 
small  house  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city  he  had  a 
home.  Here  he  lived  a  part  of  his  time,  and  reared 
a  family,  though  the  mother  of  his  children  was 
not  his  wife.  Down  town,  at  his  hotel,  he  passed 
by  one  name,  up  town,  in  his  house,  he  was  known 
by  another.  It  would  seem  imj)ossible  that  a  prom- 
inent business  man,  reputed  to  be  rich,  brought 
into  daily  business  contact  with  princely  merchants 
and  bankers,  the  head  of  a  large  railroad  interest, 
could  reside  in  New  York,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  lead  the  double  life  of  a  bachelor  and  a  man 
of  family ;  be  known  by  one  name  down  town,  and 
another  name  up  town ;  yet  so  it  was.    At  his  hotel 


100  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


and  at  his  office  lie  was  found  at  the  usual  hours. 
To  his  up-town  home  he  came  late  and  went  out 
early.  There  he  was  seldom  seen.  The  landlord, 
the  butcher,  the  grocer,  and  the  milkman  transacted 
all  their  business  w^ith  the  lady.  Bills  were 
promptly  paid,  and  no  questions  asked.  The  little 
girls  became  young  ladies.  They  went  to  the  best 
boarding-schools  in  the  land. 

An  unexpected  crisis  came.  A  clergyman  in  good 
standing  became  acquainted  with  one  of  the  daugh- 
ters at  her  boarding-school.  He  regarded  her  with 
so  much  interest,  that  he  solicited  her  hand  in 
marriage.  He  was  referred  to  the  mother.  The 
daughters  had  said  that  their  father  was  a  wealthy 
merchant  of  New  York;  but  his  name  did  not  ap 
pear  in  the  directory,  he  was  not  known  on  'change. 
The  lover  only  knew  the  name  by  which  the  daugh- 
ters were  called.  The  mother  was  affable  but  em- 
barrassed. The  gentleman  thought  something  was 
wrong,  and  insisted  on  a  personal  interview  with 
the  father.  The  time  was  appointed  for  the  inter- 
view. The  young  man  was  greatly  astonished  to 
discover  in  the  father  of  the  young  lady  one  of  the 
most  eminent  business  men  of  the  city.  He  gave 
his  consent  to  the  marriage,  and  promised  to  do 
well  by  the  daughter,  though  he  admitted  that  the 
mother  of  the  young  lady  was  not  his  wife.  The 
clergyman  was  greatly  attached  to  the  young  woman, 
who  w^as  really  beautiful  and  accomplished.  He 
agreed  to  lead  her  to  the  altar,  if,  at  the  same  time, 
the  merchant  would  make  the  mother  his  wife. 
This  was  agreed  to,  and  the  double  wedding  was 


Speculation  and  its  Fruits. 


101 


consummated  the  same  night.  The  father  and  mother 
were  first  married,  and  then  the  father  gave  away 
the  daughter.  The  affair  created  a  ten  days'  sensa- 
tion. The  veil  of  secrecy  was  removed.  The  family 
took  the  down-town  name,  which  Avas  the  real  one — 
a  name  among  the  most  honored  in  the  city.  An 
up-town  fashionable  mansion  was  purchased,  and 
fitted  up  in  style.  Crowds  filled  the  spacious  par- 
lors, for  there  was  just  piquancy  enough  in  the 
case  to  make  it  attractive.  Splendid  coaches  of  the 
fashionable  filled  the  street ;  a  dashing  company 
crowded  the  pavement,  and  rushed  up  the  steps  to 
enjoy  the  sights.  These  brilliant  parties  continued 
but  a  short  time.  The  merchant  was  rotten  at  heart. 
All  New  York  was  astounded  one  day  at  the  report 
that  the  great  railroad  king  had  become  a  gigantic 
defaulter,  and  had  absconded.  His  crash  carried 
down  fortunes  and  families  with  his  own.  Com- 
mercial circles  yet  suffer  for  his  crimes.  The  courts 
are  still  fretted  with  suits  between  great  corpora- 
tions and  individuals  growing  out  of  these  transac- 
tions. Fashionable  Kew  York,  which  could  overlook 
twenty  years  of  criminal  life,  could  not  excuse  pov- 
erty. It  took  reprisals  for  bringing  this  family 
into  social  position  by  hurling  it  back  into  an  ob- 
scurity from  which  probably  it  will  never  emerge. 

LODGINGS  IN  A  TENEMENT  HOUSE. 

A  few  summers  ago  a  lady  of  New  York  reigned 
as  a  belle  at  Saratoga.  Her  elegant  and  numerous 
dresses,  valuable  diamonds,  and  dashing  turnout  at- 
tracted great  attention.    Her  husband  was  a  quiet 


102 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


sort  of  a  man,  attending  closely  to  his  business. 
He  came  to  Saratoga  on  Saturdays,  and  returned 
early  on  Monday  morning.  The  lady  led  a  gay  life, 
was  the  centre  of  attraction,  patronized  the  plays, 
and  was  eagerly  sought  as  a  partner  at  the  balls. 
After  a  very  brilliant  and  gay  season  she  disap- 
peared from  fashionable  life,  and  was  soon  forgot- 
ten. One  cold  season  a  benevolent  New  York  lady 
visited  a  tenement-house  on  an  errand  of  mercy. 
Mistaking  the  door  to  which  she  was  directed,  she 
knocked  at  a  corresponding  one  on  another  story. 
The  door  was  opened  by  a  female,  who  looked  on 
the  visitor  for  an  instant,  and  then  suddenly  closed 
the  door.  The  lady  was  satisfied  that  she  had  seen 
the  woman  somewhere,  and  thinking  she  might  af- 
ford aid  to  a  needy  person,  she  persistently  knocked 
at  the  door  till  it  was  opened.  Judge  of  her  sur- 
prise when  she  found  that  the  occupant  of  that  room, 
in  that  tenement-house,  was  the  dashing  belle  whom 
she  had  met  a  season  or  two  before  at  the  Springs! 
In  one  room  herself  and  husband  lived,  in  a  building 
overrun  with  occupants,  crowded  with  children,  dirt, 
and  turbulence.  Mortification  and  suffering,  blended 
with  poverty,  in  a  few  months  had  done  the  Avork 
of  years  on  that  comely  face.  Her  story  was  the 
old  one  repeated  a  thousand  times.  Reverses,  like  a 
torrent,  suddenly  swept  away  a  large  fortune.  Her 
husband  became  discouraged,  disconsolate,  and  re- 
fused to  try  again.  He  lost  his  self-respect,  took  to 
the  bowl,  and  became  a  drunkard.  The  wife  fol- 
lowed him  step  by  step  in  his  descent,  from  his  high 
place  among  the  merchants  to  his  home  among  the 


Speculation  and  its  Bruits.  103 


dissolute.  To  furnish  herself  and  husband  with 
bread,  she  parted  with  her  dresses,  jewels,  and  per- 
sonal eiJects.  She  pointed  to  a  heap  in  the  corner, 
covered  with  rags,  and  that  was  all  that  remained 
of  a  princely  merchant! 

PEEILS  OF  SPECULATION^. 

The  speculating  mania  which  pervades  New  York 
is  one  of  the  rocks  in  the  channel  on  which  so  many- 
strike  and  founder.  Shrewd,  enterprising  men,  who 
are  engaged  in  successful  business,  are  induced  to 
make  investments  in  stocks  and  operations  of  various 
kinds,  and  are  thus  at  the  mercy  of  sharpers.  Their 
balance  in  the  bank  is  well  known.  Speculators  lay 
snares  for  them,  and  catch  them  with  guile.  A  man 
makes  money  in  a  business  he  understands,  and  loses 
it  in  one  he  knoAvs  nothing  about.  One  is  a  success- 
ful merchant,  and  he  imagines  he  can  be  a  successful 
broker;  one  stands  at  the  head  of  the  bar,  and  he 
thinks  he  can  lead  the  Stock  Board.  He  is  a  broker ; 
he  adds  to  it  an  interest  in  railroads  or  steamboats. 
Men  have  a  few  thousand  dollars  that  they  do  not 
need  at  present  in  their  business.  They  are  easily 
enticed  into  a  little  speculation  by  which  they  may 
make  their  fortune.  They  get  in  a  little  way,  and 
to  save  what  they  have  invested  they  advance  more. 
They  continue  in  this  course  until  their  outside  ven- 
tures ruin  their  legitimate  business.  Stock  com- 
panies, patent  medicines,  patent  machines,  oil  wells, 
and  copper  stocks  have  carried  down  thousands  of 
reputed  millionaires,  with  bankers,  brokers,  and  dry 
goods  men,  who  have  been  duped  by  unprincipled 


104 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


scliemers.  Fortunes  made  by  tact,  diligence,  and 
shrewdness,  are  lost  by  an  insane  desire  to  make 
fifty  or  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  a  day.  The 
mania  for  gambling  in  trade  marks  much  of  the 
business  of  New  York.  The  stock  and  bond  gam- 
bling has  brought  to  the  surface  a  set  of  men  new 
to  the  city.  The  stock  business,  which  was  once  in 
the  hands  of  the  most  substantial  and  respectable 
of  our  citizens,  is  now  desperate  and  reckless.  Any 
man  who  can  command  fifty  dollars  becomes  a 
broker.  These  men  knoAV  no  hours  and  no  laws. 
Early  and  late  they  are  on  the  ground.  No  game- 
sters are  more  desperate  or  more  suddenly  destroyed. 
The  daily  reverses  in  Wall  street  exceed  any  ro- 
mance that  has  been  written.  A  millionaire  leaves 
his  palatial  residence  in  the  morning,  and  goes  home 
at  night  a  ruined  man.  It  is  a  common  thing  for 
speculators  who  can  afford  it  to  draw  checks  of 
from  fifty  to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  make 
ujD  their  losses  in  a  single  day. 

A  man  rides  up  to  Central  Park  one  afternoon 
with  his  dashing  equipage ;  his  Avife  and  proud 
daughters  whirl  the  dust  in  the  eyes  of  well-to-do 
citizens  who  are  on  foot.  The  next  day  this  fine 
team  and  elegant  mansion,  Avith  store  full  of  goods, 
go  into  the  hands  of  his  creditors.  He  sends  his 
family  into  the  country,  and  either  disappears  him- 
self or  is  seen  on  the  outskirts  of  the  crowd, waiting 
for  something  to  turn  up.  The  reckless  mode  of 
doing  business  leads  to  a  reckless  style  of  living, 
extravagance  and  dissipation,  which  no  legitimate 
business  can  support.   The  mania  touches  all  classes. 


Speculation  and  its  Fruits. 


105 


Women  and  ministers  are  not  exempt.  One  pastor 
in  this  city  is  a  good  specimen  of  the  power  of  this 
speculating  mania.  The  demon  got  possession  of 
him.  He  made  a  little  money.  He  started  to  make 
five  thousand.  He  moved  the  figure  ahead  to  the 
little  sum  of  a  quarter  of  a  million.  The  business 
transformed  the  man.  His  face  became  haggard ; 
his  hair  disheveled ;  he  could  not  sleep  ;  he  bought 
all  the  editions  of  the  papers ;  got  up  nights  to  buy 
extras ;  chased  the  boys  around  the  corners  for  the 
latest  news ;  Avas  early  at  the  stock  market,  and  among 
the  last  to  leave  the  Windsor  Hotel  at  night  when  the 
Board  closes  its  late  session.  Whether  a  quarter  of  a 
million  is  worth  what  it  costs,  this  gentleman  can  tell 
when  he  gets  it.  A  lady  in  this  city  came  from  New 
England.  She  was  the  child  of  a  sailmaker,  and  was 
brought  up  in  humble  circumstances.  A  wealthy  man, 
whose  repute  was  not  high,  and  whose  disposition  was 
not  amiable,  offered  her  his  hand.  She  did  not  expect 
love,  nor  hardly  respect,  Init  he  offered  her  instead  a 
coach,  an  elegant  mansion,  and  costly  jewels.  She 
found  herself  suddenly  elevated.  She  lived  in  com- 
manding style,  with  her  furniture,  plate,  and  servants. 
She  bore  her  elevation  badly,  ^nd  looked  do\\Ti  with 
scorn  upon  her  old  friends  and  associates.  Her  hus- 
band engaged  deeply  in  speculation;  it  proved  a 
ruinous  one.  To  help  himself  out  of  a  crisis  he  com- 
mitted forgery.  He  Avas  sent  to  the  State  Prison. 
His  great  establishment  was  seized.  Her  house  was 
sold  over  her  head  by  the  sheriff.  Her  jewels,  valued 
at  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  were  spirited  away,  and 
she  never  saw  them  more.  She  was  suddenly  elevated, 


106 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


and  as  suddenly  hurled  down  to  tlie  position  from 
which  she  had  been  taken. 

HOT^ESTY  LEADS. 

The  men  who  are  the  capitalists '  of  New  York 
to-day  are  not  the  sons  of  the  wealthy  or  successful 
merchants  of  the  city.  They  are  men  whose  fathers 
were  porters,  wood  choppers,  and  coal  heavers.  They 
did  the  hard  work,  swept  out  the  stores,  made  the 
fires,  used  the  marking  pot,  were  kicked  and  cuffed 
about,  and  suffered  every  hardship.  But  they  jostled 
and  outran  the  pampered  son  of  their  employer,  and 
carried  off  the  prize.  The  chief  end  of  man  is  not 
to  make  money.  But  if  one  imagines  that  it  is,  and 
that  a  fortune  must  be  made  at  once,  then  he  w^ll 
barter  the  solid  ground  for  the  mirage,  and  leave  a 
successful  business  for  the  glittering  morass — trade 
that  insures  a  handsome  competence  for  wild  specu- 
lation. The  hands  on  the  dial  plate  of  industry  will 
stand  still  while  men  grasp  at  shadows. 

In  New  York,  two  kinds  of  business  greet  a  comer, 
one  bad,  the  other  good;  one  easy  to  get,  the  other 
hard ;  the  one  pays  at  the  start,  the  other  pays  but 
little ;  perhaps  the  position  itself  must  be  paid  for. 
If  one  wants  money,  says  he  has  his  fortune  to  make 
and  cannot  wait,  he  will  take  what  turns  up  and  wait 
for  better  times.  Disreputable  trade,  questionable 
business,  a  tricky  house,  a  saloon  or  bar  room,  are 
open  to  a  reputable  young  man,  and  if  he  have  a 
dash  of  piety,  all  the  better.  But  such  touch  pitch 
and  are  defiled  ;  they  seldom  lose  the  taint  of  the  first 
business  in  w^hich  they  are  engaged.    Men  can  be 


Speculation  and  its  Bruits, 


107 


good  or  bad  in  any  trade.  They  can  be  sound  lawyers 
or  pettifoggers ;  a  merchant  of  property  or  a  mock 
auctioneer ;  a  physician  whose  skill  and  character 
endear  him  to  the  best  families  in  the  land,  or  a 
doctor  whose  "sands  of  life  have  almost  runout;" 
a  preacher  who  says,  "Woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not  the 
gospel,"  or  a  minister  who,  like  some  in  the  olden 
time,  said,  "Put  me,  I  pray  thee,  into  the  priest's 
office,  that  I  may  get  me  a  morsel  of  bread."  There 
is  no  permanent  success  without  integrity,  industry, 
and  talent. 

In  trade  there  are  two  codes  that  govern  men. 
The  one  is  expressed  in  the  mottoes,  "All  is  fair  in 
trade;"  "Be  as  honest  as  the  times  will  allow;"  "If 
you  buy  the  devil,  you  must  sell  him  again."  The 
other  acts  on  business  principles ;  sells  a  sound  horse 
for  a  sound  price ;  gives  the  customer  the  exact  ar- 
ticle that  he  buys.  The  few  houses  that  have  been 
successful,  amid  an  almost  universal  crash,  have  been 
houses  which  have  done  business  on  principle.  In 
cases  where  honorable  tradesmen  have  been  obliged 
to  suspend,  they  are  Minister  of  Babylon.  Some  of 
these  men  went  from  the  store  to  compete  with  the 
ablest  statesmen  of  the  world.  Some  left  their 
patients  on  a  sick  bed  to  measure  swords  with  vete- 
ran commanders  on  the  battle-field.  They  met  on 
the  seas  naval  officers  of  highest  -rank,  and  made 
them  haul  down  their  flags  to  the  new  banner  of  our 
nation.  They  sounded  out  freedom  in  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  ;  the  bugle-call  rang  over  hill 
and  dale,  crossed  oceans  and  continents,  into  dun- 
geons, and  made  tyrants  tremble  in  their  palace 


108 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


homes — building  a  nation  that  no  treason  could  ruin 
and  no  foreign  foe  destroy.  Like  the  Eddystone 
lighthouse,  the  Union,  sometimes  hid  for  a  moment 
by  the  angry  surges,  still  threw  its  steady  light  on 
the  turbulent  waters,  and  guided  the  tempest-tossed 
into  the  harbor  where  they  would  be. 

These  Old  School  men  ate  not  a  bit  of  idle  bread. 
They  were  content  with  their  small  store  and  pine 
desk.  They  owned  their  goods,  and  were  their  own 
cashiers,  salesmen,  clerks  and  porter.  They  worked 
sixteen  hours  a  day,  and  so  became  millionaires. 
They  would  as  soon  have  committed  forgery  as  to 
have  been  mean  or  unjust  in  trade.  They  made  their 
wealth  in  business,  and  not  in  fraudulent  failure. 
They  secured  their  fortunes  out  of  their  customers, 
and  not  out  of  their  creditors.  Not  so  Young 
America.  He  must  make  a  dash.  He  begins  with 
a  brown-stone  store,  filled  with  goods  for  which  he 
has  paid  nothing ;  marries  a  dashing  belle ;  dele- 
gates all  the  business  that  he  can  to  others ;  lives  in 
style,  and  spends  his  money  before  he  gets  it ;  keeps 
his  fast  horse,  and  other  appendages  equally  fast ; 
is  much  at  the  club  room,  on  the  sporting  track,  and 
in  billiard  or  kindred  saloons ;  speaks  of  his  father 
as  the  "old  governor,"  and  of  his  mother  as  the  "old 
woman;"  and  finally  becomes  porter  to  his  clerk, 
and  lackey  to  his  salesman.  Beginning  where  his 
father  left  ofE,  he  leaves  ofE  where  his  father  began. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


TWO  FINANCIAL  TYPHOONS. 


THE  PANIC  OF  1873  AND  THE  DISASTROUS  OUTCOME  OF  THE  GRANT  AND 
WARD  FAILURE — THE  MONEYED  CENTER  SHAKEN — HOUSES  BLOWN 
DOWN — PROMINENT  MEN  RUINED — FERDINAND  WARD's  YICTIMS — 
GRAPHIC  PEN  PICTURES— ward's  TREACHERY  TO  GENERAL  GRANT. 

ABOUT  once  in  ten  years  New  York  is  visited  by 
a  great  financial  revulsion.  It  usually  begins  in 
Wall  street,  and  sweeps,  like  a  tidal  wave,  over  every 
part  of  the  land — paralyzing  every  interest,  and  ruin- 
ing men  by  the  thousands.  Every  country  has  a  great 
moneyed  center.  All  attempts  to  get  the  great  capital- 
ists out  of  Lombard  street  have  failed.  From  a  little 
city,  two  miles  long  and  one  wide,  London  has  spread 
out  until  it  is  ten  miles  square.  For  over  a  hundred 
years  efforts  have  been  made  to  change  the  moneyed 
center  of  that  city.  But  all  attempts  have  been  futile. 
Daily  half  a  million  of  men  are  poured  into  the  city 
before  ten  o'clock.  Near  Lombard  street  is  Thread 
and  Needle  street,  where  the  Bank  of  England  stands 
— a  low-walled  citadel,  impregnable  as  a  fortress.  In 
this  vicinity  are  the  Lord  Mayor's  mansion  and  Guild- 
hall ;  the  banks  and  bankers  of  the  metropolis,  the  im- 
mense w^arehouses  of  trade,  and  the  palaces  of  mer- 
chant princes.  Land  is  fabulous  in  price.  An  acre  of 
land  could  not  be  bought  in  the  vicinity  of  the  bank 
if  covered  with  gold  sovereigns. 


110  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


What  Lombard  street  is  to  England,  Wall  street  is 
to  America.  Here,  where  the  old  houses  stood,  and 
the  old  New  York  merchants  lived,  is  located  the 
great  center  of  American  finance.  For  years  specu- 
lators, ring  politicians,  and  interested  parties  have 
attempted  to  change  the  financial  headquarters  to  an 
upper  location.  But  all  such  efforts  have  been  put  to 
rest.  The  great  sale  of  land  on  the  corner  of  Wall 
and  Broad,  for  a  banking  house,  setttles  the  question 
for  a  century.  Startling  as  the  price  is  for  which  land 
has  been  sold  on  fashionable  thoroughfares  up  town, 
the  immense  price  paid  for  the  land  alluded  to,  throws 
all  other  sales  in  the  shade.  It  shows  that  Wall  street 
is  the  most  valuable  property  of  the  continent. 

To  this  center  the  great  capitalists  of  the  country 
gather.  Merchants  from  Maine  to  Florida,  from  Sandy 
Hook  to  the  Golden  Gate,  have  their  bankers  in  New 
York ;  Boston,  Chicago  and  Philadelphia,  have  their 
banking  houses  on  this  street.  The  huge  crops  of  the 
AVest  cannot  be  moved  till  the  gold  room  gives  per- 
mission. Not  a  railroad  can  be  built  in  any  part  of 
the  land  unless  the  bonds  are  disposed  of  in  the  city. 
Men  who  make  a  fortune  of  $10,000,  $20,000  or  $50,- 
000  in  the  country,  bring  their  gains  to  this  field, 
where  only  full  scope  can  be  given  to  their  talents. 
The  country  banks,  and  banks  in  the  smaller  cities, 
must  have  their  checks  cleared  in  New  York. 

As  tlie  gates  of  the  Temple  of  Janus,  open  or  shut, 
indicated  peace  or  war  throughout  the  world — so,  as 
Wall  street  is,  so  is  the  country.  When  the  bulls  and 
bears  arc  at  peace^ — when  money  is  plenty,  when  the 


Tivo  Financial  Typhoons,  111 


Stock  Exchange  shows  a  brisk  market  and  the  sales  are 
regular;  ^dien  the  street  is  healthy — then  it  is  known 
that  peace,  prosperity,  and  success  cover  the  land. 
But  ^vhen  Wall  street  is  excited,  every  part  of  the 
nation  is  affected.  Here  is  the  seat  of  commercial 
bi'ain.  The  nerves  agitate  every  part  of  the  l)ody 
when  this  is  disturbed.  It  is  the  headquarters  of 
operations,  and  the  alarm  reaches  the  farthest  picket 
and  the  most  solitary  sentinel  on  guard.  A  panic  may 
begin  in  Wall  street.  Two  or  three  men  may  create 
it,  and  do  it  from  the  basest  motives ;  to  add  a  few 
thousands  to  their  already  plethoric  purse ;  to  bull  or 
bear  a  certain  stock;  to  create  a  corner;  to  lock 
up  gi^eenbacks,  or  sending  gold  below  soundings,  or 
kiting  it  into  the  air — whatever  may  be  the  motive, 
the  panic  will  carry  ruin  through  the  country,  and 
strip  men  of  their  fortunes  in  an  hour.  When  the 
Stock  Exchange  is  excited,  every  stock  will  be  touched. 
Interest  on  the  street  will  run  uj)  to  1  and  2  per  cent, 
a  day.  The  banks  will  feel  it  and  begin  ^to  curtail. 
Then  the  merchants  will  stagger  ;  the  laborers  get  no 
work;  the  factories  lock  out;  and  the  misery  will 
spread  all  over  the  land.  Wall  street  is  the  throbbing 
heart  and  the  whole  nation  is  the  body  through  which 
the  agitation  flows. 

THE  FINANCIAL  TEEEOE  OF  1873. 

The  financial  barometer  is  the  most  subtle  thing  m 
the  land.  Nothing  is  so  sensitive.  Old  Probabilities 
cannot  predict,  with  half  the  accuracy,  the  coming 
storm.  There  is  something  in  the  very  air  which  men 
of  forecast  feel.    In  the  spring  of  1873,  men  said: 


112  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


"This  tiling  can't  last ;  this  wild  speculation  will  lead 
to  ruin."  "There'  are  half  a  dozen  men  in  the  street 
Avho  are  bent  on  mischief;"  "You  will  see  a  greater 
crash  than  ever  was  known  before. "  For  a  year  there 
had  been  no  money  made  on  the  street.  Merchants 
complained  that  there  was  no  profit  in  trade.  Nobody 
seemed  to  have  any  money.  Builders  refused  to  make 
contracts;  the  rates  were  high,  which  indicated  a 
sense  of  insecurity.  Money  could  not  be  collected. 
General  gloom  and  mistrust  and  fear  hung  over  the 
business  world  like  a  pall.  All  at  once  the  crash 
came.  A  menagerie  in  a  thunder  storm,  or  a  lot  of 
wild  beasts  let  loose,  would  not  have  been  madder  or 
more  excited  than  w^ere  men  on  the  fatal  Thursday. 
Leading  oj)erators  are  seldom  seen  on  the  street. 
Buying  and  selling  are  done  by  middle  men — by 
boys,  half -grown  lads — green-looking,  ill-dressed  per- 
sons, Avho  do  not  appear  to  be  worth  a  dime.  These 
buy  and  sell  by  hundreds  of  thousands.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  j^janic,  which  seemed  to  be  known 
by  instinct.  Broad  street  was  full  of  distinguished 
operators.  The  heaviest  men  were  around.  Stout, 
fat  men,  who  generally  take  their  leisure,  tore  in  and 
out  of  the  offices  where  stocks  are  bought  and  sold. 
Wilted  by  perspiration  and  covered  with  mud,  ]nillion- 
aires  could  be  seen  in  every  direction,  rushing  this 
way  and  rushing  that,  while  the  wildest  confusion 
reigned  everywhere. 

THE  MANHATTAN  BANK  ON  THE  CRISIS. 

While  everything  was  running  in  the  usual  channel, 
the  sky  clear  and  the  sea  smooth,  and  no  storm  in  the 


Two  Financial  Typhoons. 


113 


horizon,  certain  slire^nl  men  saw  specks  of  trouble 
here  and  there.  It  was  announced  that  one  of  the 
great  trust  companies  of  the  city  w^as  in  difficulty. 
Interviewers,  on  visiting  the  banking  house,  found 
everything  lovely.  The  clerks  were  at  their  posts ; 
business  ^vas  proceeding  lively ;  and  the  concern  never 
seemed  sounder  or  more  prosperous.  The  President 
of  the  company  was  in  Europe.  Gus  Schell,  the 
Vice-President,  sat  in  the  elegant  rooms  assigned  to 
the  directors,  as  pleasant  as  a  May  morning.  He 
laughed  at  the  idea  of  any  trouble  in  tJiat  institution. 
Still  the  financial  barometer  indicated  a  storm.  It 
was  rumored  that  the  Manhattan  Banking  Company 
knew  something  about  the  shaky  condition  of  the 
Trust  Company.  The  startling  rumors  soon  condensed 
into  a  palpable  fact.  It  turned  out  that  the  Trust 
Company  had  gone  down  to  the  bank  and  demanded 
two  millions  of  greenbacks,  on  certain  securities 
offered.  The  Scotch  firmness,  and  cool  forecast  and 
indomitable  corn-age  of  the  President,  Mr.  Morrison, 
served  the  bank  a  good  purpose.  "I  cannot  let  you 
have  this  money,"  said  Mr.  Morrison. 

Out  of  the  whole  street  he  was  probably  the  only 
man  who  suspected  the  real  state  of  things  in  the 
Trust  Company.  He  knew  this  only  by  certain  little 
indications  here  and  there  that  he  put  together.  As 
yet  nobody  foresaw  a  commercial  panic.  "I  cannot 
let  you  have  this  money  without  harming  every  patron 
of  the  bank.  I  am  here  to  protect  the  stockholders 
and  the  customers  of  this  institution.  I  shall  peril 
both  if  I  comply  with  your  request. "  "  But  we  are 
customers  of  the  bank,"  was  the  reply.     "Our  im- 


114 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City, 


mense  business  has  been  done  througli  your  house. 
We  have  been  the  most  prolific  patrons  of  your  bank. 
This  is  a  crisis  with  us,  and  we  must  be  accommo- 
dated. "  The  President  was  immovable,  and  the  par- 
ties retired  in  the  deepest  indignation,  with  an  ominous 
shake  of  the  head,  as  if  hereafter  the  Trust  Company 
would  select  a  bank  more  accommodating. 

This  little  affair  did  not  mend  matters.  An  excited 
throng  made  a  rush  for  their  funds.  The  Trust  Com- 
pany paid  all  comers  in  certified  checks  on  the  Man- 
hattan Bank.  These  were  refused,  the  quiet  President 
simply  remarking :  "The  Trust  Company  have  no 
funds  here:  when  they  have  we  will  honor  their 
checks. "  So  the  Manhattan  Bank  was  preserved  from 
ruin  by  the  keen  intellect  and  indomitable  firmness 
of  its  President.  This  course  saved  the  bank,  but 
made  the  panic  a  fact. 

THE  GREAT  CEASH. 

As  if  some  great  calamity  had  fallen  upon  the 
nation,  business  came  at  once  to  a  stand-still.  Every- 
body that  could  was  crowded  into  Wall  Street. 
Wherever  there  was  a  bank  there  was  a  run  upon  it. 
The  banks  soon  suspended  on  greenbacks,  and  paid  in 
certified  checks.  These  nobody  would  take.  The  ex- 
ample set  by  Manhattan  was  imitated  by  all  business 
New  York.  The  railroad  companies  ordered  their 
carmen  to  deliver  no  goods  on  certified  checks.  Ex- 
press companies  did  the  same.  A  man  who  deposited 
$1,000  in  greenbacks  in  a  bank,  would  get  next  day 
only  a  certified  check.  All  Avho  had  money  held  on 
to  it.    All  who  could  draw  out  any  placed  it  in  their 


Trro  Financial  Typhoons, 


115 


private  safe  It  was  rumored  that  Jay  Gould  drew 
out  five  millions  and  Vanderbilt  had  a  pile  of  green- 
backs that  would  have  made  a  respectable  haycock. 
In  ordinary  times  business  is  very  loosely  done. 
Banks  are  very  accommodating,  and  if  a  large  depo- 
sitor overdraws  his  account  $10,000  or  $15,000, 
nothing  is  thought  of  it.  One  of  the  most  eminent 
bankers,  one  who,  for  years,  had  an  unsullied  name, 
overdrew  his  account  $220,000,  and  instantly  stopped 
payment.  But  when  there  is  an  excitement  in  the 
street,  and  the  screws  are  put  on  suddenly  things 
snap. 

The  Stock  Eoom  was  a  scene  of  wild  confusion.  It 
was  jammed  to  sufEocation.  House  after  house  went 
down,  and  the  announcement  made  in  the  Stock  Room 
was  received  with  howls  that  were  terrific.  A  month 
before  Jay  Cooke  failed,  many  regarded  his  house  as 
insecure.  A  leading  merchant  who  has  never  failed — 
who  has  saved  himself  by  a  rule  never  to  sell  what  he 
has  not  got,  nor  to  buy  what  he  could  not  pay  for, 
— remarked.  "I  should  have  been  ruined  in  '57  if  I 
had  not  owned  my  stock  of  goods,  and  been  out  of 
debt.  I  closed  my  doors,  and  waited  until  the  storm 
blew  over. "  Confidentially  he  was  asked  by  a  friend 
about  the  house  of  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.,  "Have  you  any 
money  there?"  "Yes,  $5,000."  "What  are  your 
collaterals?"  "Nothing."  "(Jo  and  draw  your 
money.  The  house  is  too  gigantic.  If  anything 
happens  it  will  go  to  destruction. "  Side  by  side  stood 
the  elegant  rooms  of  Cooke,  and  Fisk,  and  Hatch. 
On  Friday  the  shutters  were  put  up,  the  curtains 
drawn  down.    A  few  unemployed  clerks  hung  round. 


116  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


The  solitude  of  a  funeral  reigned  within,  while  the 
surging  crowds  outside  were  kept  back  by  the  police. 

THE  EEYULSION. 

It  is  estimated  that  at  least  20,000  operators  were 
ruined  by  this  crisis.  At  least  $20,000,000  have  been 
lost.  The  Vanderbilt  stocks,  which  were  supposed  to 
be  good  as  gold — for  it  was  said  the  Commodore 
could  not  afford  to  let  his  stock  go  under — ran  down 
10,  20  and  30  per  cent.,  and  with  a  suddenness  of 
which  nobody  could  be  prepared,  ruining  thousands. 
It  was  confidently  expected  that  the  Commodore  would 
save  the  Union  Trust  Company.  He  was  debtor  to 
the  company  to  the  amount  of  $1,700,000.  This  sum 
was  borrowed  by  his  son-in-law,  Horace  F.  Clarke, 
then  in  the  interest  of  the  Lake  Shore  Road.  But  as 
the  money  was  not  due  under  six  months ;  as  the  Com- 
modore did  not  borrow  it  and  had  nothing  to  do  with 
it,  except  as  president  of  the  road;  he  declined  to 
interfere.  His  confidential  henchman,  Schell,  begged 
the  Commodore  with  tears  to  save  the  institution  from 
ruin.  He  declined  to  interfere.  On  the  morning  of 
the  failure  he  drove  down  to  the  bank.  The  immense 
crowd  gave  way  to  let  him  pass  through.  It  is  said 
that  he  had  with  him  $10,000,000.  What  he  would 
have  done  nobody  will  ever  know.  The  Trust 
Company  failed  fifteen  minutes  before  Vanderbilt 
arrived. 

The  panic  was  mainly  in  railway  stocks.  Vander- 
bilt was  the  heaviest  owner  in  the  country.  He 
probably  found  his  securities  depressed  at  least 
$20,000,000.    That  he  could  bear  such  a  pressure  and 


Two  Financial  Typhoons. 


iir 


not  shrink  or  throw  his  stocks  on  the  market,  demon- 
strated the  financial  strength  of  the  man  Money  was 
sent  on  to  him  from  every  quarter.  Millions  were 
offered  from  Boston  capitalists,  if  he  would  pay  the 
high  rate  demanded,  which  he  refused.  Some  time 
before  the  Commodore  concluded  to  lay  a  third  track 
on  the  Central.  He  placed  $15,000,000  of  bonds  on 
the  English  market.  He  deposited  $10,000,000  in 
the  Bank  of  England  in  gold.  When  the  crisis  came 
on,  he  ordered  that  gold  home  and  with  it  aided  the 
Government  in  relieving  the  financial  troubles  of  the 
country.  The  heaviest  operators  and  the  wealthiest 
men,  the  shrewd  and  the  simple  alike,  reeled  under 
the  blow.  It  was  simply  impossible  to  get  money. 
The  Government  could  not  get  it.  No  trust  company 
could;  no  stocks  or  securities  availed.  No  matter 
what  the  rate  was,  no  matter  what  the  security,  there 
was  no  money  for  anybody.  A  million  was  offered 
for  $10,000,  at  2  per  cent,  a  day.  Jay  Gould,  Fisk 
and  Hatch,  Hemy  Clews,  Howe  and  Macy,  and  other 
houses  that  suspended,  had  collaterals  enough,  in  or- 
dinary times,  to  pay  all  their  obligations,  and  have  a 
million  over ;  but  the  securities  were  of  no  more  avail 
than  a  cartload  of  pumj)kins. 

Since  Wall  street  had  a  being  the  Stock  Exchange 
had  never  been  closed  till  the  panic  of  '73.  No  stocks 
could  be  transferred,  no  contracts  completed  while 
that  institution  was  shut.  But  for  this  not  a  bank, 
nor  a  mercantile  house,  nor  a  broker  could  have  stood. 
It  was  a  stern  necessity.  The  result  showed  the 
wisdom  of  the  measure.  Had  men  been  pressed  to 
a  settlement,  as  they  would  have  been,  universal 


118 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


ruin,  tliat  would  have  spared  no  factory  and  no  ham- 
let in  the  land,  would  have  swept  the  country.  The 
closing  of  the  room  not  only  held  the  contracts  in 
abeyance,  but  gave  the  heavy  operators  time  to  cool, 
and  time  to  settle.  When  men  who  were  counted  to 
be  worth  twenty  millions,  forty  millions,  and  even 
eighty  could  nob  meet  their  contracts,  what  were 
common  tradesmen  to  do  ? 

Sunday,  September  21st,  1873,  wiU  be  ever  a  mem- 
orable one  in  our  history.  The  nation  seemed  on  the 
verge  of  financial  ruin.  The  churches  were  deserted. 
Men  jammed  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel  as  they  jammed* 
Wa]l  street  the  previous  day.  President  Grant  came 
up  from  his  cottage  at  Long  Branch  to  meet  the 
merchants  in  council  on  Sunday  night.  The  meeting 
of  the  President  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
and  the  great  capitalists  of  the  nation,  indicated  the 
gravity  of  the  hour.  Men  as  familiar  with  finance  as 
with  their  alphabet — accustomed  to  handle  millions — 
and  whose  nod  or  finger  on  'Change  had  hitherto 
raised  or  allayed  panics,  stood  face  to  face  with  the 
Soldier  President.  It  was  Grant's  custom  in  the 
Cabinet,  as  in  the  field,  to  initiate  measures  he  pro- 
poses to  adopt.  He  did  not  ask,  "Mr.  Secretary  of 
State,, what  shall  we  do  with  this?"  Nor,  "Mr. 
Secretary  of  War,  what  shall  we  do  with  that  V  But 
on  introducing  a  measure  was  accustomed  to  say  to 
his  Cabinet,  "  Gentlemen,  I  propose  to  do  so  and  so. " 
The  capitalists  of  the  country  were  surprised  to  find 
General  Grant  as  cool  and  collected  when  treating  of 
finance  as  if  he  had  been  in  camp  dictating  an  order 
to  his  orderly.     Plan  after  plan  was  suggested  by 


y 

Two  Financial  Typhoons.  119 


whicli  tlie  Government  could  relieve  the  pressure. 
To  each  plan  the  President  offered  his  objections,  in 
the  calm,  terse,  emphatic  manner  that  marks  all  his 
utterances.  "I  shall  take  no  doubtful  steps,"  he  said. 
"I  shall  not  overstrain  the  law.  I  shall  not  introduce 
any  doubtful  measures,  leaving  Congress  to  justify  me 
when  it  meets.  I  shall  do  all  in  my  power  to  relieve 
the  country,  but  I  shall  take  no  measures  that  have 
for  their  aim  simply  the  relief  of  speculators  who  have 
brought  this  trouble  upon  us."  When  the  conference 
broke  up,  many  men  had  a  better  view  of  the  intel- 
lect, character,  and  firmness  of  the  President  than 
they  ever  had  before.  * 

EETURNING  COIST^DENCE. 

That  plant  of  slow  growth  came  to  the  aid  of  a 
nearly  bankrupt  people.  The  Government  threw 
fifteen  millions  on  the  market;  the^  banks  fifteen 
more.  From  the  West  came  twenty  millions.  In  all 
fifty  millions — eased  the  market.  The  banks  threw 
out  their  hidden  stores.  Men  who  locked  up  green- 
backs threw  them  on  the  street.  Small  depositors 
hastened  back  with  the  funds  that  they  would  not 
spend,  and  dare  not  keep.  Everything  brightened 
when  the  Stock  Exchange  opened.  The  only  men 
not  affected  by  the  panic  were  the  "dead  beats;" 
men  who  had  once  had  a  name  on  the  street,  but  who 
had  been  living  for  years  from  hand  to  mouth.  They 
hailed  with  exuberant  shouts  the  announcement  of  the 
failures  of  heavy  houses,  and  yelled  with  delight 
when  millionaires  were  bankrupt,  and  the  proud 
princes  of  the  street  suspended.    They  welcomed  their 


i 


120  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

descent,  and  shouted,  in  the  language  of  the  Prince 
of  Darkness,  "Ha!  hast  thou  become  like  one  of  us?" 
When  men  worth  fifty  millions  could  not  pay  their 
debts,  and  houses  with  ten  millions  in  their  vaults 
suspended,  it  was  no  dishonor  to  fail,  and  to  have  no 
money» 

THE    UNION  TRUST  COMPANY. 

The  panic  is  a  good  illustration  of  what  is  said 
elsewhere  of  the  manner  in  which  convulsions  are 
^nade.  These  men,  in  their  mad  efEort  to  bear  the 
market,  brought  the  financial  ruin  on  the  country, 
and  came  very  near  ruining  themselves  beyond 
redemption.  Two  of  these  men  lived  in  New  York, 
and  one  in  the  West.  Daring,  unscrupulous,  and 
defiant  —  controlling  several  large  railroads  ^ — they 
formed  a  successful  combination;  sunk  twenty-five 
millions,  bankrupted  two  thousand  five  hundred 
honest  traders,  and  carried  disaster  righc  and  left. 
When  the  panic  commenced  there  was  no  house  in 
New  York  that  w^as  considered  safer  or  more 
reliable  than  the  Union  Trust  Company.  It 
had  a  list  of  directors  of  which  any  associa- 
tion might  be  proud.  Eminent  bankers,  men 
who  stood  high  in  church  and  state,  many  who 
had  worked  their  way  up  from  poverty  by  industry 
and  integrity  to  great  wealth,  who  had  taken  excel- 
lent care  of  their  own  money,  Avho  seemed  proper 
custodians  for  the  funds  of  widows  and  orphans,  too 
honest  to  steal,  and  too  vigilant  to  be  misled.  The 
failure  of  the  company  showed  that  these  eminent 
men  were  simply  figure  heads;  they  allowed  their 


Tpto  Financial  Typhoons. 


121 


names  to  be  used  simply  as  a  decoy ;  they  had  no 
more  idea  of  the  management  of  the  concern  than 
they  had  of  the  Bank  of  Calcutta.  A  stripling  of  a 
boy,  who  finally  embezzled  a  quarter  of  a  million,  and 
fled  between  two  days,  run  the  concern.  Merchants, 
trades  peo'ple,  churches,  were  solicited  to  put  their 
funds  into  this  company  for  safe  keeping.  The  courts 
ordered  referees,  assignees,  executors  and  administra- 
tors to  put  the  funds  of  estates  in  litigation  in  this 
concern. 

Young  Carlton,  who  held  the  responsible  office  of 
Secretary,  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Carlton,  of  the  Book 
Room.  He  lived  in  fine  style  in  Brooklyn  ;  drove  to 
his  business  in  a  carriage,  while  tlie  Astors  walked 
doAvn  to  their  offices.  He  speculated  on  the  street, 
helped  his  friends  to  what  they  wanted,  loaned  money 
to  his  relations,  and  until  the  bank  w^as  run  upon 
nobody  had  the  slightest  idea  that  he  was  a  defaulter. 
This  wretched  custom  of  lending  names  of  eminent 
men  to  institutions  over  whose  business  they  do  not 
take  the  slightest  oversight,  is  one  of  the  crimes  of  the 
day.  The  silly  farce  of  attempting  to  keep  up  the 
honor  of  the  company  was  continued  until  the  very 
minute  the  doors  of  the  institution  were  closed. 
When  the  run  was  made  on  the  bank,  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent came  upon  the  steps  and  assured  the  excited 
crowd  that  there  was  no  danger.  As  the  President 
spoke  the  maddened  multitude  shook  the  certified 
checks  they  held  in  their  hands,  the  payment  of 
which  had  been  refused  at  the  Manhattan  Bank,  say- 
ing, "If  you  are  solvent  pay  us  our  money!"  Even 
then  the  nimble  Secretary  was  fleeing  with  his  ill- 
gotten  gains  over  the  prairies,  or  over  the  seas. 


122  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


THE  NEW  STYLE  AND  TIIE  OLD. 

In  tlie  olden  time  bankers  gave  personal  attention 
to  their  business.  In  these  modern  times  mere  whip- 
sters run  the  great  moneyed  institutions  of  the  land, 
a  specimen  of  which  is  seen  in  the  Atlantic  Bank. 
Mr.  Southworth,  a  gentleman  of  fair  standing,  and 
supposed  to  be  honest,  was  the  president.  Nearly 
every  bank  of  New  York  had  a  peculiar  origin.  The 
Manhattan  was  chartered  to  introduce  pure  water 
into  the  city ;  the  Chemical,  for  manufactures ;  the 
Shoe  and  Leather,  for  the  boot  and  shoe  trade ;  the 
Mechanic,  for  artisans ;  Bull's  Head,  for  dealers  in 
cattle ;  the  Grocers,  for  traders ;  the  Merchants,  for 
dry  goods  men ;  and  Corn  Exchange,  for  operators 
in  flour  and  grain.  The  Atlantic  Bank  was  founded 
as  a  religious  institution,  to  accommodate  men  who 
worshiped  at  the  same  altar.  For  years  the  bank 
maintained  a  very  high  standing.  The  denomination 
patronized  it.  It  held  the  funds  of  the  great  benevo- 
lent societies.  Ministers  thought  their  funds  were 
safe  when  deacons  were  president  and  directors,  and 
where  eminent  men  held  positions  of  trust.  The 
Atlantic  may  be  said  to  have  originated  the  panic, 
for  its  downfall  was  followed  by  two  or  three  of  the 
heaviest  banks  in  the  city,  that  had  been  robbed  of 
their  entire  capital  by  the  audacity  and  roguery  of 
their  officers.  All  of  a  sudden  the  city  was  shocked 
with  the  news  that  the  Atlantic  had  suspended.  A 
young  teller,  it  turned  out,  had  had  the  management 
of  th-ings  a  long  time.  The  resj^ectable  president 
was  simply  a  figurehead,  and  the  directors,  em- 
bracing some  of  the  best  business  men  of  the  city, 


Tivo  Financial  Typhoons.  123 


were  too  busy  about  their  own  affairs  to  pay  any 
attention  to  the  business  of  the  bank.  The  young 
criminal  sported  diamonds  and  drove  fast  horses  on 
the  road.  He  diverted  himself  by  rash  speculation 
in  the  street.  Took  the  money  at  will  in  large  quan- 
tities. The  directors,  through  their  criminal  neglect, 
knew  nothing  of  it  till  they  found  themselves  dis- 
honored and  bankrupt.    Brookly  did  no  better. 

THE  TEUST  COMPAI^Y  ON  THE  HEIGHTS 

Was  the  pet  institution  of  the  City  of  Churches. 
The  most  eminent  names  in  the  city  were  on  the  roll 
of  directors.  This  gave  an  air  of  respectability  to 
the  concern.  Money  must  be  safe,  people  said,  when 
A.  A.  Low  and  kindred  spirits  were  directors.  Banks 
were  no  security ;  savings  banks  might  fail ;  but 
the  Trust  Company  was  strong  as  the  Government. 
"Read  the  list  of  directors  and  judge,"  men  said. 

Brooklyn  had  a  genuine  sensation.  The  president 
of  the  Trust  Company  was  found  drowned  in  a  little 
shallow  water  at  Coney  Island.  He  had  a  splendid 
funeral.  He  was  rich,  had  a  high  social  standing, 
was  president  of  the  Art  Union,  and  he  led  the 
fashions  on  the  Heights.  Eulogies  were  pronounced 
over  him  from  the  pulpit,  and  he  was  held  up  as  an 
example  that  young  men  would  do  well  to  copy. 
The  sudden  death  of  the  President  caused  the  Trust 
Company  to  suspend.  Ministers  rushed  for  their 
little  savings.  Churches  trembled  for  their  deposits. 
Widows  and  orphans  hung  round  the  door  in  crowds 
seeking  that  they  might  be  paid.  A  scene  of  rotten- 
ness was  revealed  that  makes  one's  blood  tingle  with 


124 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


horror  and  indignation — horror  at  the  great  frauds 
perpetrated  on  a  confiding  people ;  indignation  that 
respectable  people  will  allow  their  names  to  be  used 
to  decoy  the  public,  and  give  no  attention  to  the 
great  trust  committed  to  their  hands.  The  president 
and  secretary  had  flung  the  funds  to  the  winds  in 
rash  speculation.  The  secretary  was  known  to  be 
dishonest.  He  stood  a  defaulter  of  thousands,  yet, 
to  save  a  family  disgrace  or  something  worse,  he 
was  allowed  to  pay  up  his  embezzlement  and  remain 
in  office.  At  the  time  of  the  suspension  he  was 
assistant  treasurer  of  the  city.  In  conjunction  with 
a  high  official  he  sported  with  the  funds,  and  on  his 
own  confession  the  little  property  of  thousands  was 
periled  that  these  men  might  make  a  handsome 
dividend.  Holding  two  offices  and  keeping  two  sets 
of  books,  the  defaulter  was  enabled  to  cover  up  his 
roguery,  and  he  did  it  with  the  connivance  of  the 
officials.  Some  of  the  directors — whose  names  for 
honor  and  character  were  capital  to  the  company — 
instead  of  remaining  and  helping  the  defrauded 
public  out  of  their  trouble,  fled  to  Europe,  leaving 
their  dead  relatives  unburied,  and  a  suffering  com- 
munity without  relief. 

FISK  AND  GOULD. 

The  Black  Friday  was  an  inheritance  that  these 
gentlemen  transmitted  to  the  Street.  To  the  style  of 
business  that  produced  that  disaster  the  financial  dis- 
tress of  1873  is  mainly  to  be  attributed.  The  reck- 
lessness, the  daring,  the  defiance,  the  selfishness,  that 
brought  Fisk  to  the  surface  so  suddenly  and  so  promi- 


Two  Financial  Typhoons. 


125 


nently,  were  very  attractive  and  seductive,  and  the 
gorgeous  and  unscrupulous  peddler  had  thousands  of 
imitators.  The  audacious  business  brought  its  origin- 
ator to  a  bloody  grave,  and  the  country  to  the  verge 
of  ruin. 

Fisk  was  no  worse  than  a  thousand  other  men.  But 
he  gloried  in  his  business,  and  hung  his  shame,  as  a 
frontlet,  on  his  forehead.  Like  the  unjust  judge  he 
"neither  feared  God  nor  regarded  man."  Success 
was  his  motto,  for  the  means  he  cared  nothing.  He 
had  a  more  baneful  and  destructive  influence  over  the 
young  men  of  New  York  than  any  man  who  ever  did 
business  in  the  city.  What  other  men  spoke  in  whis- 
pers he  shouted  aloud  on  'Change.  What  others  did 
in  the  secrecy  of  the  chamber,  he  did  openly  before 
the  world.  Living  apart  from  his  family,  he  kept 
open  house  in  New  York,  and  received  the  leading 
bankers  and  merchants  of  the  city  in  his  saloons  of 
pleasure.  He  took  his  lady  associates  in  his  four-in- 
hand,  and  drove  through  the  streets  at  Church -time 
on  Sundays,  to  show  his  dehance  of  public  sentiment, 
and  the  tone  of  his  morality.  Llis  gorgeously  fitted- 
up  steamboats  he  sent  out  Sundays  on  pleasure  excur- 
sions, loaded  down  to  the  guards,  and  filled  with  every 
form  of  sensual  pastime.  As  the  crowd  landed  on 
Sunday  nights,  heated  w4th  wine  and  drunken  with 
pleasure,  the  gaudy  opera  house  was  flung  oj)en  for 
their  entertainment,  with  fancy  French  actresses,  per- 
forming in  plays  on  the  evening  of  the  Lord's  Day, 
that  would  not  be  allowed  in  England  on  secular  even- 
ings. Every  Sunday  night  Christian  men  and  mer- 
chants could  be  seen  with  detectives  hovering  round 


126  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


the  Opera  House,  in  search  of  their  boys  and  girls, 
decoyed  from  service  and  from  home,  by  the  glare  and 
fascination  of  the  place.  Unless  all  history  is  a  lie, 
unless  there  be  no  God  in  the  Heaven,  such  a  life  must 
end  disastrously.  As  all  the  world  knows,  it  went 
down  in  blood. 

A  SADDER  VIEW. 

The  ruin  of  families — the  sorrow  and  shame  of  mer- 
chants— the  sweeping  away  in  an  hour  of  the  gains  of 
a  lifetime — the  shaking  of  confidence^ — the  general 
alarm  attending  a  commercial  panic  is  bad:  but  there 
are  things  worse.  We  have  never  had  a  great  com- 
mercial revulsion  without  its  being  followed  by  the 
death  of  eminent  men.  The  excitement,  the  alarm, 
the  terror  has  a  positive  physical  effect.  Men  live  ten 
years  in  a  day  and  never  grow  young  again.  Vigor- 
ous-stepping, energetic  business  men  toddle  roand  as 
if  they  had  just  risen  from  a  bed  of  sickness.  Men  of 
forty  walk  with  canes,  their  underpinning  being 
knocked  out.  Paralysis,  apoplexy,  giddiness,  and, 
more  dangerous  than  all,  Bright' s  Disease,  is  created 
by  the  panics  of  the  street.  Little,  Keep,  Lock  wood, 
and  a  host  of  others,  died  fi^om  the  effects  of  these 
business  revulsions. 

A  well-known  merchant  took  a  fortune  of  five  millions 
out  of  the  street.  He  retired  fi^om  the  business  and 
went  abroad  w4th  his  family.  He  came  back  just 
before  the  panic  of  IB  73.  His  old  associates  were 
glad  to  see  him,  and  gave  him  a  dinner  at  Delmonico's. 
A  new  style  of  operating  had  been  introduced  during 
his  absence.    The  table  was  surrounded  by  daring 


Two  Financial  Typhoons.  127 


speculators,  heavy  men  of  the  street,  and  one  or  two 
bank  presidents.  A  glittering  scheme  was  presented, 
in  which  the  clique  present  were  interested.  The  re- 
tired banker,  like  the  war-horse,  snuffed  the  battle 
from  afar.  He  was  fascinated.  He  begged  to  be  in- 
cluded in  the  ring.  He  put  in  a  million.  He  put  in 
a  second  million  to  save  the  first.  He  went  still  deeper. 
The  panic  caught  him,  and  on  Thursday  night  he  had 
not  money  to  pay  for  an  omnibus  ride  home.  His 
friends  had  to  put  him  under  surveillance  to  keep  him 
from  taking  his  life. 

THE  TAmc  OF  1884. 

The  panic  of  1884  will  not  be  speedily  forgotten. 
While  not  so  disastrous  as  either  "Black  Friday"  or 
the  financial  typhoon  of  1884,  it  not  only  destroyed 
thousands  of  private  fortunes,  but  shortened  the  days 
of  General  Grant.  It  w^as  precipitated  by  the  knavish 
operations  of  Ferdinand  Ward,  aided  and  abetted  by 
James  D.  Fish.  It  pulled  down  among  others  the 
Marine  Bank,  the  Metropolitan  Bank,  Atlantic 
Bank  of  Brooklyn,  Newark  Savings  Bank  of  Newark, 
N.  J.,  the  West  Side  Bank,  Sweeney's  Bank  ;  shook 
the  Second  National  Bank,  and  drove  its  cashier, 
John  C.  Eno,  to  Canada,  a  defaulter,  to  the  extent 
of  a  quarter  of  a  million,  and  crushed  the  broker- 
age and  private  banking  firms  of  Fisk  &  Hatch  and 
Foote,  J.  C.  Williams,  Golf  &  Eandall  Hatch,  A.  W. 
Dimock  &  Co.,  Wm.  H.  Sweeney,  W.  C.  Hardy  & 
Co.,  N.  Robinson  &  Co.,  Hotchkiss  &  Burnham  and 
Donnell,  Lawson  &  Simpson.  Added  to  this,  James 
H.  Work,  a  lawyer,  lost  a  uiillion  ;  J.  Nelson  Tappan, 


128 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


the  City  Chamberlain  a  half  million.  Tlie  losses 
sustained  by  General  Grant's  personal  friends  will 
probably  never  be  known,  as  they  were  in  the  main 
suffered  in  silence.  General  Grant  alone  lost  a 
quarter  of  a  million  and  w^as  beggared,  while  every 
dollar  his  sons  possessed  was  swept  away.  Ferdinand 
Ward  is  now  serving  a  twenty-five  years  sentence  in 
Sing  Sing,  while  James  D.  Fish,  his  wicked  partner, 
is  in  Auburn  prison  for  twenty  years.  Eno  is  still 
in  Canada  accompanied  by  cashier  Hinckley,  of  the 
West  Side  Bank.  J.  Nelson  Tappan  died  of  a  broken 
heart,  and  General  Grant — well,  his  demise  was 
certainly  hastened  by  what  he  deemed  the  disgrace 
attendant  upon  the  disreputable  failure. 

Ferdinand  Ward  came  to  New  York  ten  years 
ago,  a  poor  clerk.  In  the  course  of  time,  being  a 
Connecticut  Yankee,  he  made  his  presence  felt.  He 
speculated  in  Wall  street  with  his  salary,  and  won. 
He  tried  it  again  and  kept  on  winning.  Presently 
he  attracted  the  attention  of  James  D.  Fish,  who 
was  President  of  the  Marine  Bank,  and  Fish 
backed  him  in  his  various  enterprises.  He  mar- 
ried fairly  well,  bought  a  mansion  in  Brooklyn, 
a  summer  residence  up  the  Sound,  and  shortly  be- 
came one  of  the  most  dashing  operators  on  the  street. 
During  the  autum  of  1883,  AVard  formed  the  pri- 
vate banking  and  brokerage  firm  of  Grant  &  Ward. 
It  was  composed  of  General  Grant,  Ferdinand  Ward, 
James  D.  Fish  and  IT.  S.  Grant,  Jr.  William  C. 
Smith  acted  as  the  firm's  broker.  It  dealt  in  rail- 
road bonds  and  general  securities  ostensibly,  but 
in  reality  it  was  organized  to  handle  army  and  gov- 


iDCene  m  \I\Ial\  Street  duxing  tb.e  ■paniG. 


Tivo  Financial  Typhoons, 


129 


ernment  contracts.  General  Grant's  name  begot 
public  confidence,  and  Ward  had  everything  his  own 
Avay  for  a  time.  He  would  borrow  money  on  the 
strength  of  real  or  imaginary  government  contracts 
at  nsnrious  rates  of  interest.  He  would  place  money 
for  his  acquaintances  in  what  he  was  pleased  to 
term  his  "blind  pool,"  and  ^3  ay  them  handsome  divi- 
dends. William  C.  Warner  is  said  to  have  received 
a  half  million  from  Ward  in  profits  as  a  return  for 
his  investments.  On  Saturday  May  3,  1884,  Ward 
left  the  city  and  went  to  his  Connecticut  home.  He 
did  not  return  for  several  days.  Tuesday  May  6, 
shortly  before  noon,  the  Marine  Bank,  owing  to  the 
failure  of  Ward  to  make  good  his  heavy  over-di^af ts, 
suspended  payment,  the  failure  of  Grant  &  Ward 
immediately  ensued  and  then  the  crash  came  swiftly, 
for  so  many  other  houses  were  likewise  involved. 
Grant  &  Ward  owed  the  Marine  Bank  something 
like  two  millions. 

A  DAY  OF  TEEKOR. 

But  it  was  not  until  May  14,  that  the  perilous 
times  came  on.  A  few  minutes  after  eleven  o'clock, 
on  that  forenoon,  a  long  line  of  men  and  boys  stood 
in  front  of  the  paying  teller's  window  in  the  Metro- 
politan Bank  at  Broadway  and  Pine  street.  Every 
person  in  the  line  held  one  or  more  checks  to  be  certi- 
fied ;  the  alarming  rumors  as  to  impending  failures 
having  made  uncertified  checks  of  no  value,  no  matter 
by  whom  signed.  Just  at  that  moment  the  paying 
teller  shut  his  window,  and  it  was  announced  that 
the  Metropolitan  Bank  would  suspend  payment  as  a 


130  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


matter  of  necessity  and  precaution.  A  liowl  of 
dismay  went  up  from  the  men  in  line,  and  a  break 
was  made  for  the  door,  where  a  number  of  deposi- 
tors were  met,  all  bent  upon  hurrying  in  to  get  a 
denial  of  the  rumored  suspension.  In  less  than  five 
minutes  the  iron  doors  were  closed  and  policemen 
arrived  to  stand  guard  on  the  steps.  The  first  story 
told  the  large  depositors,  w^ho  arrived  breathless 
and  indignant,  was  that  the  suspension  had  been 
ordered  by  President  Seney,  the  philanthropist,  in 
order  to  prevent  a  run  for  which  the  bank  might  not 
be  well  prepared.  This  was  accepted  by  the  group 
of  depositors  as  of  small  comfort,  and  by  noon  hun. 
dreds  of  persons  who  had  left  money  behind  the 
grim-looking  doors  of  the  institution  were  assembled 
in  the  street  without  bewailing  their  prospective  loss 
of  deposits. 

While  the  above  scene  was  being  enacted  there 
was  a  mammoth  run  in  the  Second  National  Bank, 
for  the  intelligence  that  young  Eno  had  defaulted 
to  Canada  through  his  Grant  &  Ward  bosses, 
alarmed  all  who  had  a  penny  in  its  vaults.  There 
were  at  one  time  three  hundred  depositors  in  line, 
but  President  Eno,  father  of  the  young  scapegrace, 
stood  by  and  assured  all  that  they  should  be  paid 
in  due  season.  Payments  were  made  as  fast  as  a 
teller  could  hand  out  the  money,  and  the  bank  pulled 
through.  From  noon  until  two  o'clock  that  after- 
noon, Wall  street  from'  Broadway  to  Pearl,  was  a 
dense  mass  of  wild,  struggling,  shouting  humanity. 
Brokers,  bankers,  merchants  and  business  men,  were 
jammed  in  from  sidewalk  to  sidewalk,  and  street 


Tivo  Financial  Typhoons.  131 


traffic  was  completely  suspended.  The  sole  topic 
was  the  story  of  the  failure  of  the  banks,  and  the 
most  extravagant  rumors  flew  thick  and  fast.  On 
the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Wall,  opposite  the 
office  of  Grant  &  Ward,  in  front  of  the  Stock  Ex- 
change, of  the  Metropolitan  Trust  Company's  build- 
ing and  tlie  Phoenix  National  Bank,  the  jam  was 
simply  terrible,  and  it  seemed  as  though  every  one 
had  lost  his  senses. 

A  rumor  was  started  that  the  Manhattan  Bank  had 
gone  under,  and  thousands  rushed  toward  the  tempo- 
rary offices  of  that  concern  on  William  street.  When 
it  was  discovered  that  the  rumor  was  a  canard,  the 
crowd  ao^ain  returned  to  Wall  street.  The  wildest  and 
most  excited  crowd  of  the  day  gathered  about  Grant 
&  Ward's  office,  as  if  a  solution  of  the  disastrous  prob- 
lem could  in  some  way  be  gained  in  that  quarter. 
Pandemonium  seemed  let  loose.  Men  raved,  gesticu- 
lated and  vociferated,  and  a  babel  of  voices  with  no 
particularly  distinguishing  elements,  rose  up  fi'om  the 
streets,  and  the  famous  draft  scene  riots  were  revived. 
In  front  of  Hatch  and  Foote's  office  Wall  street  was 
so  crowded  that  the  stages  could  not  get  through. 

After  two  o'clock  the  feeling  was  general  that  the 
day  would  pass  without  further  disaster,  but  in  a  few 
minutes  it  was  announced  that  Fisk  &  Hatch  had  been 
caught  in  the  vortex.  This  was  especially  crushing 
news  fi-om  the  fact,  that  Mr.  Fisk  was  President  of 
the  Stock  Exchange.  The  failure  of  the  firm  was 
caused  by  the  decline  of  first-class  railroad  stocks, 
which  were  hammered  down  by  the  effects  of  the 
Ward  &,  Grant  failm^e.    That  same  afternoon  Dimock 


132 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


&  Co.,  principal  owners  of  the  Bankers'  and  Merchants' 
Telegraph  Company,  found  themselves  a  few  mil- 
lions shoi-t,  and  succumbed  to  the  inevitable.  Banker 
Sweeney,  also,  went  down.  Then  came  the  suspensions 
of  H.  C.  Hardy  &  Co.,  Bogart  &  Co.,  Donnell,  Law- 
son  &  Simpson,  GofE  &  Eandall,  Edmund  C.  Stead- 
man,  the  poet ;  Hatch  &  Foote,  and  the  lesser  houses. 
The  entire  country  was  terribly  shaken;  but,  thanks 
to  the  New  York  Clearing  House,  the  banks  of  Gotham 
rallied,  stood  together,  and  further  disaster  was  averted. 
In  the  three  years  which  have  elapsed  since  that  event- 
ful May  day,  let  it  be  said  to  the  credit  of  the  sus- 
pended firms,  that  a  majority  of  them  paid  dollar 
for  dollar.  President  Seney,  of  the  Metropolitan, 
held  on  to  his  southern  railway  stocks,  and  was  able 
to  pay  depositors  of  his  broken  bank  in  full,  the 
last  payment  being  made  something  like  five  months 
ago.  Ths  dishonest  cupidity  of  Ferdinand  Ward 
was  responsible  for  the  panic  of  1884.  A  recent 
dispatch  from  Sing  Sing,  announced  him  a  surly, 
hardened  criminal. 


CHAPTER  VII.  , 
A  NIGHT  ON  THE  BATTERY. 

THE  BATTERY  AS  IT  WAS — A  SUICIDE — A  DARK  STORY — THE  TEMPTATION — 
A  RESCUE — FORCED  LOANS — TRAFFIC  IN  FLESH  AND  BLOOD — MADDEN- 
ING EXTORTIONS. 

FORMERLY,  the  Battery  was  the  pride  of  New 
York.  It  was  never  large,  but  it  was  a  spot  of 
great  beauty.  It  opened  on  to  our  splendid  bay.  A 
granite  promenade  ran  by  the  water-side.  It  was 
traversed  by  paths  in  all  directions.  Trees,  the 
growth  of  centuries,  afforded  a  fine  shade.  A  sea 
breeze  came  from  the  ocean,  with  health  on  its 
wings.  Castle  Garden  was  the  resort  of  the  fash- 
ionable and  gay.  The  wealthy  citizens  of  New  York 
and  vicinity  filled  the  Battery  every  pleasant  afternoon. 
On  every  side  were  costly  houses,  the  residences  of  the 
wealthy  merchants.  But  now  all  is  changed  !  Trade 
has  driven  families  up  town.  Castle  Garden  is  an 
emigrant  depot.  The  grass  has  disappeared,  the  iron 
fence  is  broken,  the  wall  promenade  near  the  sea  gone 
to  decay,  freshly-arrived  foreigners,  ragged,  tattered, 
and  drunken  men  and  women  sit  under  the  old  trees, 
and  the  Battery  is  now  as  unsafe  a  place  at  night  as 
can  be  found  in  the  city. 


134  TVoNDEP^s  OF  A  Great  City, 


A  SUICIDE. 

One  night  an  officer,  in  citizen's  clothes,  was  walking 
on  the  Battery.  His  attention  was  directed  to  a  man 
walking  back  and  forth  on  the  old  sea  wall.  His  ap- 
pearance indicated  great  sorrow  and  desperation.  The 
officer  thought  he  intended  suicide.  He  went  up  to 
the  man,  touched  him  lightly  on  the  shoulder,  and  in  a 
kind  tone  said,  "  Not  to-night ;  not  now.  The  water  is 
cold.  You  must  not  leave  your  wife  and  children. 
Don't  take  that  great  leap  in  the  dark.  Don't  do  it 
to-night."  Aroused  as  from  a  reverie,  in  angry  tones 
the  man  demanded  of  the  officer,  "Who  are  you?"  In 
an  instant  they  recognized  each  other.  The  suicide 
exclaimed,  "  Good  God !  is  it  you  ?  How  came  you 
here  ?  How  did  you  know  what  I  intended  to  do  ?  Let 
us  go  and  sit  down.  You  shall  know  why  I  propose 
to  throw  away  a  life  that  is  not  worth  keeping.  I  am 
daily  in  hell.  I  can  endure  my  tortures  no  longer.  I 
determined  to-night  to  seek  rest  beneath  the  quiet  wa- 
ters.   You  shall  hear  my  tale,  and  judge  for  yourself." 

A  DARK  STORY. 

Seated  on  a  bench  by  the  side  of  the  officer,  the 
young  man  told  his  griefs.  He  said,  "  I  came  from  my 
mountain  home  in  New  England,  to  seek  my  fortune  in 
this  city.  My  mother's  prayers  and  blessing  followed 
me.  I  resolved  to  do  no  dishonor  to  those  who  loved 
me  and  looked  for  my  success.  I  entered  a  large  mer- 
cantile store,  and  for  a  time  did  the  menial  work.  I 
was  industrious  and  ambitious,  and  resolved  to  rise.  I 
did  cheerfully  and  faithfully  what  was  allotted  to  me. 
My  advance  was  slow  at  first.    I  gained  the  confidence 


NlGRT  ON  THE  jBaTTERY. 


135 


of  my  employers,  and  have  risen  to  the  position  of  con- 
fidential clerk.  I  married  a  noble-hearted  girl,  whom  I 
love  better  than  life,  and  for  a  time  all  things  went  well 
with  me. 

"  One  day,  while  at  the  store,  I  received  a  letter, 
written  in  a  fine,  delicate  hand,  asking  for  a  loan  of 
money  for  a  short  time.  The  writer  regretted  that 
necessity  which  made  it  needful  for  her  to  ask  for  the 
loan ;  but  she  was  greatly  reduced,  had  money  to  pay, 
and  could  not  escape  from  her  present  difficulty,  unless 
her  friends  (underscoring  the  word  friends)  would  loan 
her  a  small  sum,  say  fifty  dollars,  for  a  short  time.  The 
letter  was  signed  by  a  name  unknown  to  me.  The  letter 
hinted  at  some  indiscretions  of  mine,  and  threatened 
an  exposure  unless  the  money  was  forthcoming.  On 
inquiry,  I  found  the  woman  to  be  one  of  those  cold- 
blooded and  heartless  wretches  that  abound  in  New 
York,  who  live  on  black  mail.  She  was  a  notorious 
woman,  and  passed  sometimes  under  one  name  and 
sometimes  under  another.  I  had  seen  her  once,  in 
company  with  some  associates,  but  that  was  many  years 
ago.  She  kept  a  list  of  all  her  acquaintances,  even  of 
those  who  were  casually  introduced.  My  name  is  on 
that  list.  Since  the  fatal  hour  I  saw  her,  her  eye  has 
never  been  off  from  me.  She  could  afford  to  wait.  She 
has  watched  my  rise,  and  when  I  dare  not  refuse,  has 
made  a  levy  on  me,  under  the  specious  pretext  of 
a  loan. 

THE  TEMPTATION. 

"  My  true  course  would  have  been  to  have  taken  the 
letter  to  my  employer,  stated  all  the  circumstances,  and 
followed  his  advice.    I  should  have  taken  the  letter  to 


136  W^ONDEES  OF  A  Oui<iA.T  OlTY, 


my  wife,  and  then  bade  the  vile  creature  do  her  worst ; 
or  I  should  have  seen  jou,  placed  the  case  in  your 
hands,  and  ended  the  infamous  career  of  this  woman, 
at  least  for  a  time.  I  had  not  courage  to  do  either. 
I  was  afraid  of  the  exposure.  Fifty  dollars  was  a  small 
sum,  and  if  I  could  buy  her  silence  for  that,  it  would 
be  cheaply  bought.  I  sent  the  money,  and  bade  the 
woman  trouble  me  no  more.  With  the  money  I  was 
fool  enough  to  send  a  letter.  Armed  with  this  evidence 
that  I  had  complied  with  her  demand,  another  loan  was 
requested  of  a  hundred  dollars.  For  two  years  the 
leech  has  drawn  upon  me,  keeping  pace  with  my  sup- 
posed business  success.  I  have  paid  over  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  received  yesterday  a  new  call.  I  have 
taken  money  from  my  employers.  My  accounts  are  not 
correct.  I  expect  every  day  that  an  exposure  will 
take  place.  I  cannot  witness  the  shame  and  agony  of 
my  family." 

A  RESCUE. 

The  officer  led  the  young  man  to  the  police  station. 
A  note  was  dictated,  and  sent  to  the  address  of  the 
woman,  inviting  her  to  an  interview  at  a  place  named, 
where  the  business  v/ould  be  completed  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  all  parties.  Prompt  on  the  time  the  woman 
made  her  appearance.  She  was  attended  by  a  "  friend," 
a  noted  pugilist  of  the  city,  burly,  brazen,  and  strong, 
able  to  pummel  the  young  clerk  to  a  jelly  if  he  resisted 
the  demands  made  upon  him.  Out  of  sight,  but  with- 
in hearing,  were  two  officers.  The  whole  matter  was 
talked  over,  the  past  and  the  future.  The  whole  story 
was  given,  confirming  that  told  to  the  officer  on  the  Bat- 
tery.   The  bargain  was  made,  that  if  the  young  man 


Night  on  the  Battery, 


137 


would  pay  one  thousand  dollars  in  instalments  he  should 
be  troubled  no  more.  At  the  right  moment  the  officers 
appeared  and  arrested  the  parties.  Rather  than  go  to 
the  Tombs,  the  friend  agreed  to  refund  all  the  money 
that  had  been  extorted  from  the  clerk,  signed  a  paper 
acknowledging  all  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  agreed  to 
quit  the  city,  which  was  done. 

FORCED  LOANS. 

Women  and  men,  in  New  York,  live  in  style  by  loans 
forced  from  business  men  in  the  city.  Young  men  who 
want  to  see  New  York  life  while  they  are  young,  and 
who  think  it  is  a  very  fine  thing  to  sow  their  wild  oats 
in  early  life,  little  know  what  a  harvest  they  are  to 
reap.  On  one  of  the  very  fashionable  avenues  in  the 
city  there  stands  the  most  fashionable  and  costly  house 
of  infamy  on  the  continent,  which  was  built  and  fur- 
nished by  loans  exacted  froui  business  men.  It  is  a 
palace,  unequalled  except  by  the  marble  house  of 
Stewart,  and  is  adorned  by  statuary,  paintings,  and  all 
that  art  and  taste  can  suggest  or  money  purchase. 
The  proprietor  of  the  mansion  is  one  of  the  most  noto- 
rious and  infamous  of  women.  She  began  life  on  the 
lowest  round  of  the  ladder.  Soon  she  set  up  for  a 
nurse.  She  opened  a  house  for  the  reception  of  women 
who  were  about  to  become  mothers  before  they  were 
wives.  Her  next  step  was  that  of  a  female  physician, 
whose  practice  was  among  the  most  debased  and  de- 
graded. She  had  practice  in  Boston,  Philadelphia,  and 
the  South.  She  was  often  before  the  court  on  criminal 
charges.  She  was  never  convicted,  though  her  hands 
were  often  stained  with  the  blood  of  her  victims.  As 


138 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


she  rose  in  wealth,  she  opened  a  home  for  the  un- 
fortunate. In  it,  the  sick  that  could  pay  had  the  most 
tender  and  delicate  nursing.  A  young,  sensitive,  and 
intelligent  girl,  who  had  been  enticed  from  home,  found 
a  kind  and  considerate  friend  in  the  hostess.  It  paid 
well  to  have  this  repute ;  and  when  such  an  one  was 
introduced  by  a  man  of  substance  or  standing,  the  kind 
attention  was  doubled.  Elegant  rooms,  costly' furniture, 
delicacies  of  all  kinds,  quiet,  well-dressed  and  obsequi- 
ous attendants  waited  the  call  of  the  invalid.  No  moth- 
er could  watch  the  delicate  and  sobbing  girl  with  more 
care  than  this  vile  woman.  When  rooms  were  engaged, 
they  were  taken  by  some  person  without  a  name.  As 
they  were  paid  for  the  term  of  confinement  in  advance, 
it  would  make  no  difference  to  the  keeper  of  the  house 
who  made  the  arrangements.  Why  should  she  care,  so 
long  as  her  pay  is  sure  ?  But  there  is  a  future  for  her ; 
and  the  party  who  comes  in  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
without  a  name,  to  engage  rooms,  will  know  that 
future  to  his  cost. 

TRAFFIC  IN  FLESH  AND  BLOOD. 

Heavy  as  is  the  sum  paid  to  this  woman  for  the 
present  care  of  the  patient,  the  future  is  richer  in  gain. 
It  is  not  the  policy  of  these  women  to  harm  mother  or 
child ;  avarice  demands  that  the  child  live.  In  the 
hour  of  deep  anguish  and  trial,  all  alone  in  a  strange 
room,  with  the  visions  of  home  looming  up,  with  shame 
and  remorse  burning  their  impress  on  the  alabaster 
brow,  with  the  prospect  of  death  before  her,  the  be- 
wildered child  repays  the  tender  care  by  becoming 
confidential.    She  names  the  party  to  whom  her  ruin 


Night  on  the  Battery,   •  133 

is  ascribed^  and  bids  the  woman  take  care  of  the  Httle 
comer  should  the  young  mother  die.  All  the  facts  in 
the  case  gleaned  from  this  death-pillow  are  carefully 
noted  in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose,  with  the  names 
of  the  parties,  their  residence,  place  of  business,  and  all 
needed  particulars.  The  child  is  carefully  protected. 
It  is  a  living  witness,  and  will  be  a  source  of  great 
profit  when  the  day  of  reckoning  comes.  The  party 
who  takes  the  child  is  interested  in  the  establishment. 
When  loans  are  called  for,  it  can  be  produced  and 
identified  at  any  moment. 

MADDENING  EXTORTIONS. 

Cured  and  discharged,  the  patient  returns  to  society, 
marries,  and  settles  down  in  life.  The  man  pursues 
his  business  career  with  success.  He  becomes  honored 
among  merchants.  His  name  stands  high  on  'change. 
He  has  a  high  social  position.  He  becomes  an  ofiicer 
in  some  one  of  our  benevolent,  philanthropic,  or  re- 
ligious institutions.  If  he  thinks  of  his  early  indiscre- 
tions, he  is  glad  to  know  that  the  great  secret  is  locked 
in  his  own  bosom.  All  this  while  his  name  is  written 
in  a  book.  There  is  one  human  eye  that  knows  his 
down-sitting  and  his  up-rising.  With  a  hundred  other 
names  his  can  be  read  in  the  fatal  list.  He  is  at  the 
mercy  of  one  of  the  shrewdest,  most  abandoned,  and 
desperate  of  women.  She  knows  the  mercantile  value 
of  every  name  on  that  list  whom  she  has  served; 
knows  their  domestic,  social,  and  commercial  standing. 
Each  one  is  her  banker.  She  draws  when  she  will.  A 
man  of  business  is  surprised  on  receiving  a  call  from  a 
lady,  who  comes  in  her  carriage  on  pressing  business. 


140 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Has  he  forgotten  the  person  he  met  in  a  small,  half- 
lighted  room,  -with  whom  he  transacted  some  business 
some  months  or  years  before?  Or  a  polite  note  is 
received,  signed  by  the  woman,  inviting  him  to  an  in- 
terview on  urgent  business;  or,  in  polite  terms,  a  loan 
is  requested  of  a  certain  sum  for  a  short  time.  Aston- 
ished and  in  terror,  the  demand  is  acceded  to,  only  to 
be  repeated  with  increased  amount  every  year.  Bank- 
f  uptcy  has  followed  this  system  of  extortion.  Men  have 
fled  their  country,  and  gone  into  strange  lands.  Men 
have  sought  relief  in  suicide,  rather  than  be  disgraced. 
Not  long  since,  an  honored  man,  who  had  been  elevated 
to  the  highest  trusts  our  city  can  confer,  sunk  beneath 
the  tyranny  of  extortion;  his  brain  softened,  and  he 
passed  prematurely  away.  Few  have  the  least  idea  of 
the  extent  of  this  business,  or  of  the  number  and  stand- 
ing of  the  parties  implicated.  Elegant  mansions  are 
builded  and  maintained ;  splendid  teams  and  gilded 
equipages  roll  through  Central  Park ;  liveried  servants 
excite  the  envy  of  those  less  exalted ; — all  which  are 
supported  by  tributes  wrung  from  persons  who  have 
a  fair  outside  social  standing.  Could  the  roll  be  read, 
and  the  names  pronounced.  New  York  would  be 
astonished,  alarmed  and  convulsed,  —  hollow  deceitful 
and  wicked  as  the  city  is. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


BLACK-MAILING  AS  AN  AET. 


METHODS  OF  RAISING  MONEY — A  WIDOWER  BLACK-MAILED — A  MINISTER 
FALLS  AMONG  THIEVES — BLACK-MAILERS  AT  A  WEDDING — A  BRIDE 
CALLED  ON — ANOTHER  MODE — BLACK-MAILER  FOILED — HOTEL  REGIS- 
TERS AND  BLACK-MAIL. 


EW  YORK  is  full  of  adroit  rogues.    Men  and 


JL  ^  women  abound  here  who  live  by  their  wits. 
Hiding  themselves  in  the  multitude  of  our  people, 
watching  their  chances  and  their  victims,  they  are 
seldom  detected.  Black-mailing  is  reduced  to  a  sys- 
tem. It  is  carried  on  by  street-walkers,  stragglers 
on  the  pavement,  loungers  about  hotels,  keepers  of 
dance-cellars,  panel-thieves,  and  criminals  of  all 
grades.  In  cases  of  black-mailing,  where  relief  is 
at  once  sought,  the  detective  force  are  often  able  to 
restore  the  money.  Usually  the  victim  criminates 
himself  so  far  that  he  is  unwilling  to  appear  before 
the  courts ;  so  that  if  the  money  is  restored,  which  is 
seldom  the  case,  the  rogue  escapes.  Men  come  to  New 
York  to  see  "  the  elephant. "  They  are  not  fond  of  ex- 
hibiting their  wounds  if  they  are  struck  by  his  trunk. 
Rural  gentlemen,  who,  from  the  steps  of  their  hotel, 
follow  a  bland  stranger  who  offers  to  show  them  the 


142 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


sights  of  the  city,  are  not  willing  to  tell  how  they 
lost  their  watches  or  purses.  They  had  rather 
lose  their  property  than  have  their  names  get  into 
the  paper.  The  black-mailers  understand  this ;  and 
when  they  rob  a  man,  they  so  commit  the  victim, 
that  he  can  make  no  complaint  to  the  authorities 
without  dishonoring  himself. 

A  WIDOWER  BLACK-MAILED. 

A  man  about  fifty-five  years  old  came  from  the 
rural  districts  to  spend  a  little  time  in  the  city.  He 
was  wealthy,  respectable,  and  the  father  of  two 
children.  He  selected  his  quarters  up  town.  Among 
the  boarders  was  an  attractive  California  widow. 
The  widow  and  widower  soon  became  quite  intimate. 
Both  seemed  captivated.  By  mutual  consent  a  suite 
of  rooms  was  taken,  handsomely  furnished,  and  oc- 
cupied by  the  parties.  A  few  days  after  the  I'emoval, 
the  gentleman  was  greeted  with  an  unpleasant  surprise 
on  entering  his  room.  A  stranger  sat  in  his  chair, 
who  announced  himself  as  the  husband  of  the  woman, 
and  demanded  heavy  damages  for  dishonor  done  to 
his  name.  The  old  man  was  frightened  nearly  out  of 
wits.  Had  he  gone  to  the  police  force,  and  put  him- 
self in  their  hands,  all  would  have  been  well.  But 
he  did  as  most  men  do  under  such  circumstances — he 
offered  a  large  sum  of  money  to  hush  the  matter  up, 
keep  it  out  of  the  papers,  and  be  allowed  to  depart. 
He  paid  the  money,  settled  the  bills,  left  the  elegant 
furniture,  packed  his  trunks,  and  departed. 

He  was  not  lost  sight  of,  however,  for  a  moment. 
The  parties  knew  their  man,  and  his  means;  knew  his 
standing,  and  the  value  he  put  on  his  good  name.  He 


Blackmailing  as  an  Art.     •  143 


was  dogged  constantly ;  he  was  drawn  upon  for  large 
sums  of  money;  he  was  threatened  with  exposure,  till, 
driven  to  desperation  and  almost  beggary,  he  did 
what  he  should  have  done  at  first — went  to  the  police 
headquarters  and  made  a  clean  breast  of  it.  The  chief 
of  the  detectives  took  the  case  into  his  own  hands.  On 
a  new  demand  for  money  being  made,  the  chief  opened 
a  negotiation,  through  a  friend,  to  see  if  a  settlement 
could  not  be  made,  so  that  the  victim,  by  paying  a 
certain  sum,  might  be  free  from  further  annoyance. 
The  chief  worked  up  the  husband.  He  turned  up  too 
conveniently  not  to  be  a  rogue.  He  w^as  tracked  to 
Boston,  where  he  had  a  wife  and  children  living.  The 
Boston  marriage  was  established.  The  black-mailers 
were  met  at  the  appointed  hour.  The  sum  demanded 
was  agreed  upon,  and  the  chief  was  ready  to  pay  the 
money  as  soon  as  the  parties  signed  a  receipt.  The 
adroit  rogues  declined  to  put  pen  to  paper,  and  the 
detective  declined  to  pay  the  money  which  he  held  in 
his  hand.  Blustering  and  threatening  seemed  to  have 
no  effect  on  the  resolute  friend.  The  handle  of  a  pistol 
conveniently  peeping  out  from  the  detective's  bosom, 
and  the  cool  manner  of  the  negotiator,  indicating  that 
he  knew  how  to  use  it,  admonished  the  black-mailers 
that  an  attempt  to  get  the  money  by  force  would  not 
succeed.  The  receipt  was  signed.  The  chief  coolly  put 
it  into  his  pocket,  with  the  money  which  he  held  in  his 
hand.  The  rogues  knew  at  once  he  was  a  detective. 
The  principal  one  claimed  the  woman  as  his  wife,  and 
said  he  had  a  lawful  right  to  settle  the  case  as  he 
pleased.  "  If  that  woman  is  your  wife,"  said  the  de- 
tective, "  then  I'll  trj  you  for  bigamy,  and  send  you  to 


144 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Sing  Sing."  Amid  much  blustering  and  many  threats 
he  was  taken  to  the  Tombs.  He  was  found  to  be  an 
old  offender.  Graver  crimes  rose  up  against  him.  He 
was  tried,  and  sent  to  Sing  Sing.  The  victim  was  re- 
Heved  from  further  extortion.  His  money,  gone,  could 
not  be  regained.  He  returned  to  his  rural  home  satis- 
fied with  his  New  York  experience. 

A  MINISTER  FALLS  AMONG  THIEVES. 

On  Broadway,  below  Fourteenth  street,  stood  a 
church  that  at  one  time  was  one  of  the  most  fashiona- 
ble in  the  city.  The  congregation  was  wealthy  and 
large,  the  minister  eloquent  and  popular.  The  belles 
of  the  city,  with  the  young  and  the  fashionable,  crowded 
the  church  when  the  pastor  filled  the  pulpit.  In  the 
full  flush  of  his  popularity,  when  a  pew  could  not  be 
hired  at  any  price,  when  any  salary  would  have  been 
paid  to  him  that  he  demanded,  the  minister  disappeared. 
Quite  late  on  Saturday  night  the  vestry  received  a 
letter  from  the  rector,  dated  off  Sandy  Hook.  The 
letter  tendered  the  rector's  resignation,  and  announced 
that  he  had  sailed  that  day  at  noon  in  one  of  the  Cu- 
nard  steamers  for  Europe.  The  parish  were  surprised 
and  alarmed.  The  whole  affair  was  a  painful  mystery. 
Here  was  a  minister,  settled  over  a  flourishing  and 
liberal  charge,  wdth  a  fine  church  and  parsonage,  a 
church  crowded  with  the  elite  of  the  city,  with  a  salary 
equal  to  any  demands  he  might  make,  with  the  best 
singing  in  the  city,  and  all  the  popular  appliances,  who 
had  suddenly  resigned,  and  privately  left  the  country, 
to  go  no  one  knew  where. 

The  story  is  a  romance.   The  explanation  came  after 


Blackmailing  as  an  Art, 


145 


the  minister  had  completed  his  European  tour.  At, 
midnight  the  door-bell  of  his  parsonage  was  violently 
runo:.  Goino;  to  the  window,  the  minister  saw  a  man 
s(andini>:  on  his  door-stone,  and  he  demanded  his  busi- 
r.ess.  He  came  with  a  message,  he  said,  from  a  dying 
woman.  Hastily  dressing  himselfj  the  good  man  came 
to  tlie  door  and  received  the  message.  Just  around  the 
block  v;as  a  poor  woman,  and  she  was  dying.  Her  only 
treasure  was  a  babe.  She  could  not  die  in  peace  unless 
her  babe  was  baptized.  If  his  reverence  would  come 
to  her  dying  pillow,  and  administer  that  sacrament,  the 
blessing  of  a  poor  dying  woman  would  be  his  reward. 
It  was  much  to  ask,  and  at  midnight  too,  but  his  great 
Master,  who  loved  the  poor,  would  not  have  denied 
such  a  request  as  this. 

His  humane  and  religious  sympathies  were  aroused, 
and  the  minister  followed  the  messenger.  Common 
prudence  would  have  said,  "  Take  a  policeman  wdth 
you.  Call  up  a  friend,  and  get  him  to  bear  part  in  the 
ceremony."  But,  dreaming  of  no  peril,  he  went  on  his 
way  to  do,  as  he  thought,  his  Master's  will.  He  w^as 
soon  in  a  dissolute  region,  in  a  street  notorious  for  its 
uncleanness.  The  messenger  knocked  at  a  heavy  gate, 
that  closed  up  a  narrow,  dark  alley.  It  opened  im- 
mediately, and  slammed  behind  the  parties  like  a 
prison  door.  Through  a  long,  narrow^,  and  unwhole- 
some entry,  that  seemed  to  be  an  alley-way  covered, 
the  parties  took  their  w^ay.  They  passed  up  a  narrow 
staircase,  broken  and  rickety.  Lewd  women  were 
passed  on  the  stairs.  Dark-featured  and  villanous-look- 
ing  men  seemed  to  crowd  the  place.  With  his  sacred 
vestments  on  his  arm,  and  his  book  of  service  in  his 


146  ^  Wonders  cf  a  Great  City, 

hand,  the  minister  was  ushered  into  a  dark  and  un- 
wholesome-looking room.  The  door  was  closed  behind 
him,  and  locked.  A  dim  candle  on  the  table  revealed 
the  outline  of  a  dozen  persons,  male  and  female,  of  the 
most  abandoned  and  desperate  class.  His  inquiry  for 
the  sick  woman,  and  the  child  to  be  baptized,  was 
greeted  by  shouts  of  laughter.  He  knew  he  was  a 
victim.  He  demanded  the  reason  for  this  outrage. 
He  was  informed  that  his  friends  who  had  invited  him 
there  wanted  money.  His  standing  and  character  were 
well  known.  He  was  in  one  of  the  most  notorious 
houses  in  New  York ;  his  midnight  visit  to  that  place 
was  well  known,  and  could  easily  be  proved.  If  he  paid 
one  thousand  dollars,  all  would  be  well.  If  not,  his  ruin 
was  certain.  Instead  of  defying  the  villains,  calling  on 
the  police,  or  confiding  in  his  congregation,  he  thought 
he  could  hush  the  matter  up.  He  might  have  known 
that  it  w^ould  all  come  out,  and  that  every  dollar  he 
paid  would  be  used  as  evidence  against  him,  or  as 
means  to  extort  more.  But  he  was  thoroughly  fright- 
ened ;  would  not  have  the  thing  known  for  the  world ; 
his  hand  was  in  the  lion's  mouth,  and  he  must  draw  it 
out  as  easily  as  he  could ;  so  he  gave  his  obligation  to 
pay  the  money  promptly  at  noon  the  next  day,  which 
he  did.  Of  course  new  demands  were  made  from  time 
to  time.  He  was  dogged  in  the  streets.  Suspicious- 
looking  men  stopped  to  speak  with  him  on  the  corners. 
Notorious  men  rang  his  door-bell.  Mysterious  notes, 
from  ignorant,  low-bred,  and  vicious  persons,  —  as  the 
spelling  and  language  showed,  —  came  to  his  hands, 
and  into  the  hands  of  his  family.  The  poor  man  was 
nearly  distracted.    He  paid  away  his  own  money,  and 


Blackmailing  as  an  Art.  147 

borrowed  -  till  his  reputation  suffered.  The  threat  of 
exposure  hung  over  him  Hke  an  ominous  sword  held  by 
a  hair.  In  a  moment  of  desperation  he  decided  to 
leave  the  country,  which  he  did,  to  the  astonishment 
and  regret  of  his  friends. 

On  his  return  from  Europe,  the  rector  settled  in 
Massachusetts,  over  a  small  rural  parish.  He  was  soon 
tracked  to  his  country  home.  Black-mailing  was  re- 
newed. His  old  terror  came  upon  him.  Again  he  ac- 
ceded to  the  extortion.  The  police  of  New  York  at 
length  came  to  his  relief  In  searching  for  other  game, 
they  came  upon  proof  that  this  minister  was  in  the 
hands  of  black-mailers.  Letters  were  found  containing 
information  of  his  whereabouts,  how  to  terrify  him, 
what  sums  to  demand,  and  at  what  time  his  salary  was 
due.  He  was  relieved  from  his  pursuers.  The  large 
sums  he  had  paid  were  not  refunded.  His  spirits  were 
broken,  and  he  has  never  recovered  his  position.  I  saw 
him  not  long  since  in  Canada.  He  holds  a  subordinate 
position,  and  is  preaching  to  a  small  parish.  He  will 
die  A  victim  of  black-mailing. 

BLACK-MAILERS  AT  A  WEDDING. 

A  fashionable  wedding  is  a  harvest  season  for  black- 
mailers, especially  if  the  bridegroom  has  been  known 
as  a  fast  young  man.  No  bank  keeps  a  better  account 
of  the  whereabouts  and  standing  of  its  depositors,  than 
do  black-mailers  of  the  whereabouts,  standing,  and 
movements  of  their  victims.  A  wedding  among  New 
York  high  life  is  talked  about.  Invitations  are  greedily 
seized.  The  elite  are  all  agog.  On  the  morning  of 
the  day  previous  to  the  wedding,  a  lady  comes  to  the 


148 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


store,  and  asks  for  the  young  man.  Her  business  ia 
announced  as  important.  She  must  see  the  young  gen- 
tleman. The  "  must "  is  emphatic.  At  such  a  time, 
when  all  are  so  sensitive,  and  when,  as  is  often  the 
ease,  a  fortune  hangs  on  the  bridal  wreath,  it  is  im- 
portant to  have  no  scenes.  A  thrill  through  the  frame 
of  the  young  gentleman  called  for,  the  hurrying  back 
of  his  blood  from  the  face  to  the  heart,  tells  that  his 
time  has  come.  He  goes  to  the  interview  as  the  ox 
goes  to  the  slaughter.  Be  the  claim  real  or  bogus, 
hush-money  is  generally  paid. 

A  BRIDE  CALLED  ON. 

A  call  is  not  unfrequently  made  at  the  home  of  the 
young  lady  to  be  married.  It  is  a  woman  that  calls,  in 
a  shabbj^-genteel  array,  to  excite  sympathy.  The  call 
is  made  a  week  or  ten  days  before  the  wedding.  Every 
step  is  consummately  taken,  and  tells  in  the  right  di- 
rection. The  young  lady  is  called  for  by  the  woman, 
who  seems  to  possess  a  wounded  spirit.  Her  appear- 
ance, the  tone  of  her  voice,  the  expression  of  her  face, 
bespeak  one  who  has  been  greatly  wronged,  or  who 
has  some  great  sorrow  at  heart.  The  acting  is  con- 
summate. Of  course  the  young  lady  is  not  at  home  to 
strangers.  She  then  asks  if  the  young  man  is  in ;  if 
it  is  true  that  he  is  going  to  be  married  ;  if  any  one 
can  tell  her  where  he  can  be  found — questions  intended 
to  create  anxious  inquiry  at  the  breakfast  table :  "  Who 
can  that  woman  be  ?  What  can  she  want  of  Charlie  ? 
Why  did  she  ask  so  particularly  about  his  being  mar- 
ried?" The  frightened  maiden  runs  to  her  lover,  and 
gays,  "  0,  Charlie,  there  was  a  woman  here  this  morn- 


Blackmailing  as  an  Art,  149 

ing  for  you !  She  seemed  so  poor  and  sad !  She 
wanted  to  know  where  3^011  could  be  found.  She 
wanted  to  know  if  you  were  to  be  married  soon.  Who 
is  she  ?  What  can  she  want  of  you  ?  "  A  nice  prepa- 
ration this  for  the  visit  of  the  black-mailer  on  Charlie 
lit  the  store. 

A  bolder  step  is  not  unfrequently  taken.  As  the 
bridal  company  are  enjoying  themselves  in  an  up-town 
first-class  residence,  an  emphatic  ring  announces  an 
impatient  comer.  The  bridegroom  is  asked  for,  and 
the  footman  bade  to  say  that  a  lady  wants  to  see  him. 
The  imperious  air  of  the  woman  plainly  tells  the  foot- 
man, "If  he  refuses  to  see  me  there'll  be  trouble." 
The  footman,  well  acquainted  with  high  life  in  New 
York,  knows  well  what  the  visit  of  the  woman  means. 
He  has  the  honor  of  the  family  in  his  charge.  He 
whispers  the  request  of  the  woman  to  the  startled 
bridegroom.  But  what  can  be  done  ?  The  woman  is 
notorious,  and  well  kno\yn.  She  understands  her  busi- 
ness, and  is  unscrupulous.  Threats  and  entreaty  will 
be  alike  unavailing.  Ten  men  could  not  put  her  ofi' 
of  that  step-stone.  She  would  cling  to  that  iron  railing 
with  the  strength  of  a  maniac.  She  would  rouse  the 
whole  neighborhood  by  her  screeches,  accusations,  and 
blasphemies.  The  party  would  break  up  in  excitement. 
The  scandal  would  run  through  all  New  York ;  the 
papers  would  be  full  of  it ;  the  police  might  take  her 
away,  but  she  would  rend  the  air  with  her  tears  and 
strong  crying.  All  these  considerations  are  taken  into 
the  account  by  the  black-mailers.  A  private  isettle- 
ment  is  usually  made,  and  the  unseasonable  visitor 
departs. 


150 


Wonders  of  a  Cp.eat  City. 


ANOTHER  MODE. 

The  announcement  in  the  papers  of  marriage  in  high 
life,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  father,  does  more 
than  give  information  to  the  curious.  It  is  a  bugle-call 
to  black-mailers.  A  young  husband,  just  admitted  a 
partner  with  the  father-in-law,  whose  repute  is  without 
a  stain,  whose  success  in  life  depends  upon  an  unblem- 
ished character,  is  overwhelmed  with  the  threat  that 
unless  a  sum  of  money  is  paid  at  a  given  time,  an  in- 
famous charge  shall  be  made  against  him.  An  unman- 
ly fear,  a  cowardly  dread  of  being  accused  of  a  crime 
never  committed,  a  wish  to  shield  from  sorrow  the 
young  being  he  has  just  led  to  the  altar,  often  lead  a 
young  man  to  yield  to  the  demands  of  black-mailers  if 
they  will  take  themselves  off.  They  depart  for  a  time, 
only  to  return  to  renew  the  demand,  making  the  one 
payment  a  reason  for  asking  more. 

BLACK-MAILER  FOILED. 

I  know  a  young  man  of  marked  business  ability. 
He  was  superintendent  of  a  Sunday  school  and  a  young 
partner  in  an  important  house.  His  marriage  gave  him 
a  fine  social  position.  About  three  months  after  hit3 
return  from  his  wedding  trip,  a  woman  called  upon 
him  at  his  store.  She  seemed  to  be  quite  well  ac- 
quainted with  him,  and  told  her  errand  in  a  busi- 
ness-like style.  She  wanted  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
must  have  it.  He  could  give  it  to  her.  If  he  did, 
all  would  be  well.  If  he  did  not,  she  would  make 
trouble  in  his  store,  and  trouble  in  his  family.  People 
would  believe  her,  suspicion  would  attach  to  hira^  and 


Blackmailing  as  an  Art. 


151 


he  could  never  shake  it  off.  She  gave  him  a  limited 
time  to  make  up  his  mind ;  placed  her  card  in  his  hand, 
and  departed.  The  young  man  had  sense  and  pluck. 
He  went  to  a  detective^  and  placed  the  matter  in  his 
hands.  The  detective  force  is  an  institution  in  New 
York.  Its  members  are  shrewd,  cool,  talented  and  ef- 
ficient. They  are  everywhere,  and  in  all  disguises.  They 
represent  all  professions.  They  are  unknown  to  rogues, 
and  are  therefore  successful  in  their  efforts  to  detect 
criminals  and  to  relieve  their  victims.  Assuming  the 
role  of  a  friend,  the  detective  called  upon  the  woman. 
She  was  young,  intelligent,  well-dressed,  seemingly 
modest.  She  professed  to  be  adverse  to  a  dissolute  life, 
and  charged  that  she  had  stepped  aside  under  the 
solemn  promise  of  marriage.  She  gave  times  and 
places  when  she  met  the  young  man,  and  her  candor 
and  modesty  would  have  deceived  any  one  but  a 
detective.  She  had  rooms  in  a  reputable  house,  and 
gave  the  name  of  her  employer.  With  this  statement 
the  conspiracy  was  revealed.  One  of  the  times  men- 
tioned, the  young  man  was  in  Europe  during  the  whole 
year  on  business  for  the  house.  The  second  time 
specified,  he  w^as  absent  from  the  city  the  whole  month 
on  his  wedding  tour,  with  the  fixmily  of  his  senior 
partner.  The  room  where  the  interview  was  held  was 
borrowed  for  the  occasion  of  a  casual  acquaintance, 
who  knew  nothing  of  the  disreputable  character  of  the 
woman.  The  plot  was  blown  into  the  air.  The  wo- 
man confessed  her  conspiracy,  gave  the  names  of  her 
associates,  and  was  marched  off  to  the  Tombs. 


150 


WOIWEBS  OF  A  GHHAT  CiTT, 


ANOTHER  MODE. 

The  announcement  in  the  papers  of  marriage  in  high 
life,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  father,  does  more 
than  give  information  to  the  curious.  It  is  a  bugle-call 
to  black-mailers.  A  young  husband,  just  admitted  a 
partner  with  the  flither-in-law,  whose  repute  is  without 
a  stain,  whose  success  in  life  depends  upon  an  unblem- 
ished character,  is  overwhelmed  with  the  threat  that 
unless  a  sum  of  money  is  paid  at  a  given  time,  an  in- 
famous charge  shall  be  made  against  him.  An  unman- 
ly fear,  a  cowardly  dread  of  being  accused  of  a  crime 
never  committed,  a  wish  to  shield  from  sorrow  the 
young  being  he  has  just  led  to  the  altar,  often  lead  a 
young  man  to  yield  to  the  demands  of  black-mailers  if 
they  will  take  themselves  off.  They  depart  for  a  time, 
only  to  return  to  renew  the  demand,  making  the  one 
payment  a  reason  for  asking  more. 

BLACK-MAILER  FOILED. 

I  know  a  young  man  of  marked  business  ability. 
He  was  superintendent  of  a  Sunday  school  and  a  young 
partner  in  an  important  house.  His  marriage  gave  him 
a  fine  social  position.  About  three  months  after  hit? 
return  from  his  wedding  trip,  a  woman  called  upon 
him  at  his  store.  She  seemed  to  be  quite  well  ac- 
quainted with  him,  and  told  her  errand  in  a  busi- 
ness-like style.  She  wanted  five  hundred  dollars,  and 
must  have  it.  He  could  give  it  to  her.  If  he  did, 
all  would  be  well.  If  he  did  not,  she  would  make 
trouble  in  his  store,  and  trouble  in  his  family.  People 
would  believe  her,  suspicion  would  attach  to  him,  and 


Blackmailing  as  an  Art, 


151 


he  could  never  shake  it  off.  She  gave  him  a  limited 
time  to  make  up  his  mind ;  placed  her  card  in  his  hand, 
and  departed.  The  young  man  had  sense  and  pluck. 
He  went  to  a  detective,  and  placed  the  matter  in  his 
hands.  The  detective  force  is  an  institution  in  New 
York.  Its  members  are  shrewd,  cool,  talented  and  ef- 
ficient. They  are  everywhere,  and  in  all  disguises.  They 
represent  all  professions.  They  are  unknown  to  rogues, 
and  are  therefore  successful  in  their  efFortri  to  detect 
criminals  and  to  relieve  their  victims.  Assuming  the 
role  of  a  friend,  the  detective  called  upon  the  woman. 
She  was  young,  intelligent,  well-dressed,  seemingly 
modest.  She  professed  to  be  adverse  to  a  dissolute  life, 
and  charged  that  she  had  stepped  aside  under  the 
solemn  promise  of  marriage.  She  gave  times  and 
places  when  she  met  the  young  man,  and  her  candor 
and  modesty  would  have  deceived  any  one  but  a 
detective.  She  had  rooms  in  a  reputable  house,  and 
gave  the  name  of  her  employer.  With  this  statement 
the  conspiracy  was  revealed.  One  of  the  times  men- 
tioned, the  young  man  was  in  Europe  during  the  whole 
year  on  business  for  the  house.  The  second  time 
specified,  he  was  absent  from  the  city  the  whole  month 
on  his  wedding  tour,  with  the  fimiily  of  his  senior 
partner.  The  room  wdiere  the  interview  was  held  was 
borrowed  for  the  occasion  of  a  casual  acquaintance, 
who  knew  nothing  of  the  disreputable  character  of  the 
woman.  The  plot  was  blown  into  the  air.  The  wo- 
man confessed  her  conspiracy,  gave  the  names  of  her 
associates,  and  was  marched  off  to  the  Tombs. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


SUNDAY  IN  NEW  YORK. 

A  SPECIMEN  SABBATH  MOKNING — THE  CHURCH-GOERS — THE  PLEASURE 
GOERS — A  FEW  RELIGIOUS  PECULIARITIES — FOREIGNERS  AND  SUNDAY 
— SAMPLE  SUNDAY  AMUSEMENTS — VARIED  NOTES. 

THE  quiet  of  a  Sabbath  morning  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  city  is  in  marked  contrast  to  the  con- 
fusion and  hubbub  of  the  week.  Crossing  the  street 
is  a  dangerous  effort  to  life  and  limb  near  Fulton 
street.  On  Sundays  it  is  as  quiet  as  a  cathedral. 
Broadway,  on  which  Old  Trinity  stands  sentinel  at 
one  end,  and  aristocratic  Grace  at  the  other,  is  swept 
clean  and  is  deserted.  An  occasional  coach,  bring- 
ing to  the  hotels  a  Sabbath  traveler,  or  a  solitary 
express  wagon  loaded  down  with  baggage,  and  now 
and  then  a  street  car,  is  all  that  breaks  the  solitude. 
The  broad,  clean  pavement  of  Broadway  glistens 
with  the  morning  sun,  and  is  as  silent  as  the  wilder- 
ness. The  revelers,  gamblers,  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  pleasure,  who  ply  their  trade  into  the  small 
hours  of  the  morning,  sleep  late ;  and  the  portions 
of  the  city  occupied  by  them  are  as  silent  as  the 
tomb.  The  sanitary  blessings  of  the  Sabbath  to  a 
great  city  are  seen  in  all  the  lower  part  of  New 
York.  Laboring  classes  cease  from  toil,  loiter  about, 
well  shaved  and  with  clean  shirts,  and  smoking  their 


Sunday  IN  New  York. 


153 


pipes.  Children  from  tlie  lowest  dens,  the  foulest 
cellars,  the  darkest  alleys,  come  on  to  the  sidewalk 
with  an  attempt  at  cleanliness,  with  their  best  robes, 
or  an  effort  to  mend  their  dilapidated  appearance 
by  a  little  bit  of  ribbon  or  a  rude  ornament.  News- 
boys, with  their  faces  washed,  their  hair  combed 
with  their  nngers,  oifer  their  papers  in  subdued  tones. 
In  a  quiet  voice  the  bootblacks  ask,  "Black  your 
boots?"  and  exhibit  their  own  shoes  polished  out  of 
respect  to  the  day.  The  utmost  quiet  prevails  along 
the  docks.  Piers  and  wharves  are  swept  clean,  and 
the  silence  of  a  pestilence  pervades  these  noisy  marts 
of  trade.  The  sailors  do  their  morning  work  quietly 
in  a  holiday  rig.  On  the  North  and  East  Rivers 
are  moored  thousands  of  vessels,  every  one  of  which 
carries  its  flag  at  its  mast-head.  Bethel  churches 
and  floating  chapels  are  open  to  seamen.  The  dram- 
shops make  a  compromise  with  the  day  by  sanding 
floors,  putting  their  employees  in  clean  shirts,  and 
closing  up  one  half  of  their  shutters. 

CHUECH-GOERS. 

The  churches  are  generally  well  attended  in  the 
morning.  As  the  bells  call  to  prayer.  New  York 
comes  to  the.  pavement,  elegantly  dressed,  as  for  a 
soiree  or  matinee.  The  streets  present  an  attractive 
and  gay  appearance.  The  cars  are  crowded  with 
people  on  their  way  to  their  religious  homes,  without 
regard  to  distance  or  locality.  Wealthy  church-goers 
come  out  with  their  dashing  teams.  Their  splendid 
outfits  appear  to  great  advantage  on  a  beautiful 
Sabbath  morning.    Churches  most  crowded  in  the 


154 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


morning  have  a  poor  attendance  in  the  afternoon. 
But  for  the  name  of  it,  most  of  them  might  as  well 
be  closed  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  New  York  boasts 
about  a  half  dozen  sensation  preachers,  who  have  a 
hold  on  the  masses,  and  can  draw  a  second  audience. 
But  for  "gospel  j)reaching,"  as  it  is  called,  one 
sermon  a  day  is  as  much  as  our  people  care  to  hear, 
and  more  than  they  inwardly  digest.  Clustering 
together  in  a  fashionable  locality,  within  sight  and 
sound  of  each  other,  are  more  costly  churches  than 
can  be  found  on  any  spot  in  the  world.  Most  of 
these  churches  have  come  from  down  town.  Sellino: 
their  property  in  lower  New  York  at  a  great  price, 
they  all  want  a  fashionable  up-town  location.  Leav- 
ing other  parts  neglected,  these  churches  crowd  on 
to  one  another.  Two  or  three  of  them  are  on  one  block. 
The  singing  and  preaching  in  one  church  is  heard  in 
another.  Costly  and  elegant,  most  of  them  are  thinly 
attended.  Looking  on  their  rich  adornments,  and  in- 
quiring the  price  of  pew^s,  one  is  at  a  loss  to  conceive 
where  people  of  moderate  means  go  to  church  in  this 
city. 

PLEASURE-GOERS. 

The  sermon  over,  the  dinner  digested,  then  comes 
pleasure.  The  morning  quiet  of  lower  New  York  gives 
place  to  revelry.  Funerals,  attended  by  a  military  or 
civic  procession  and  bands  of  music,  are  kept  till  Sun- 
day afternoons,  if  the  corpse  has  to  be  packed  in  ice. 
Central  Park  is  crowded.  Fashionable  people  turn  out 
in  immense  numbers.  Everything  that  can  go  on  foui' 
legs  is  engaged  of  liverymen  for  Sunday  in  advance. 


Sunday  in  New  York. 


155 


Thousands  resort  to  the  sea-side,  High  Bridge  and  Fort 
Lee  on  the  Hudson.  The  same  cars  that  convey  people 
to  morning  worship  convey  those  who  do  not  own 
teams  to  their  afternoon  pleasures.  Theatres  of  the 
loAver  order  are  oj)ened.  Public  gardens,  concert 
saloons,  and  lager-beer  enclosures  are  crowded.  Danc- 
ing, bowling,  drinking,  carousing,  gambling,  occupy 
the  crowd.  - 

The  removal  of  the  down-town  churches  leaves  an 
immense  population  to  spiritual  neglect  and  indiffer- 
ence. The  strongholds  of  piety  are  levelled,  and  on 
their  foundations  Mammon  holds  her  high  carnival. 
Where  once  the  aristocratic  lived  are  reeking  tene- 
ment-houses, and  the  day  is  gven  up  to  revelry  and 
dissipation. 

EELIGIOUS  PECULIARITIES. 

If  a  minister  has  a  rich  and  fashionable  congrega- 
tion, success  is  certain,  though  his  talents  are  feeble 
and  his  gifts  small.  He  may  be  an  able  and  popular 
pulpit  orator,  and  he  will  generally  fail  if  he  depends 
upon  the  popular  ear.  Over  one  of  our  congrega- 
tions, the  most  fashionable  in  the  city,  Avhere  it  is 
difficult  to  get  a  seat  at  any  price,  a  minister  has 
been  settled  for  years,  on  a  high  salary,  who  could 
not  get  a  call  to  a  common  country  congregation. 
His  intellect  is  not  above  the  average,  his  feeble 
voice  does  not  half  fill  the  house,  his  utterance  is 
choked  and  muddy,  he  has  a  jerky  delivery,  and  his 
manners  are  forbidding^  and  unattractive.  On  the 
other  hand,  men  come  to  New  York  who  bring  with 
them  immense  local  popularity.    Having  succeeded 


156  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


elsewhere,  they  expect  to  carry  New  York  by  storm. 
They  are  brought  here  to  rescue  waning  congrega- 
tions, to  fill  an  empty  house,  to  sell  costly  pews. 
The  reputation  they  bring  avails  them  nothing.  A 
man  must  make  his  oavti  mark  in  the  city.  Men  who 
have  been  eminently  successful  in  other  places  do 
not  succeed  at  all  here.  Men  of  talent,  genius,  elo- 
quence, are  preaching  in  halls,  preaching  in  little 
chapels,  preaching  to  small  and  humble  congrega- 
tions, preaching  on  starving  salaries,  who  would 
make  their  mark  elsewhere.  But  New  York  is  very 
fascinating,  and  men  hold  on. 

Not  long  since  one  of  our  religious  societies  held 
its  anniversary.  It  secured  a  popular  New  England 
minister  to  preach — one  who  fills  any  house  in  his 
own  vicinity.  A  commanding  church  was  selected, 
and,  to  accommodate  the  crowd  who  were  expected, 
^xtra  seats  were  put  in  the  aisles,  vestibule,  and  on 
the  platform.  The  evening  came,  with  the  preacher, 
but  the  crowd  came  not.  In  the  face  of  the  vacant 
chairs  and  empty  extra  seats  the  services  were  con- 
ducted with  a  deadening  effect.  New  Yorkers  did 
not  know  the  preacher,  and  would  not  go  to  hear 
him. 

FOEEIGT^ERS  AND  SUD^DAY. 

The  foreign  population  in  the  city  is  immense. 
Every  nationality  is  represented.  Should  the  great 
bell  of  the  City  Hall  clang  out  its  peal,  and  draw 
the  population  that  live  around  it  to  its  doors,  a 
man  standing  on  the  steps  could  speak  to  as  motley 
a  group  as  Peter  addressed  on  the  day  of  Pentecost. 
The  Jews  occupy  whole  streets,  and  drive  out  other 


/ 


Sunday  IN  New  York.  157 


nationalities.  Their  stores  are  open  on  Sunday,  and 
a  large  part  of  them  keep  neither  their  own  Sabbath 
nor  ours.  The  Germans,  Irish,  Italians,  Portuguese, 
abound.  Noisy  trade  goes  on  where  foreigners  live, 
and  the  Sabbath  is  filled  with  noisy,  wanton,  and 
drunken  violators.  Places  of  amusement  are  many, 
and  dancing,  drinking,  and  revelry,  guided  by  heavy 
brass  bands,  girdle  the  city.  The  great  mass  of  the 
foreign  population  attend  no  church.  The  Sabbath 
of  the  Continent  is  becoming  common  in  the  city. 
The  observance  of  the  day  grows  less  and  less. 
Pleasure-seekers  are  more  open,  and  their  number  is 
increased  by  the  fashionable  and  influential.  Every 
wave  of  foreign  emigration  lessens  the  dry  land  of 
religious  observance. 

SUNDAY  AMUSEMENTS. 

There  is  no  lack  of  special  Sunday  amusements 
of  a  high  order.  In  numerous  halls  and  gardens 
are  Sunday-night  concerts  which  are  advertised 
as  "sacred,"  but  which,  with  Gounod's  Ave  Marie  as 
salt,  are  wholly  filled  up  with  opera  aii^s  and  popular 
music.  They  are  very  largely  attended,  particularly 
by  sojourners  at  the  fashionable  u]3-town  hotels.  In 
summer,  such  places  as  Koster  &  Biol's,  Theiss', 
Huber's,  Prospect  Garden,  Jones'  Wood,  Lion  Park, 
and  the  Atlantic  Garden,  draw  their  largest  and  best 
audiences  Sunday  night.  At  times,  the  police  try  to 
enforce  the  Sunday  law.  The  trial  is  very  weak, 
however,  and  is  of  little  avail. 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  NEW  YORK  POLICE. 

THE  OLD  SYSTEM  OF   PROTECTING   THE   CITY— HOW   THE  METROPOLITAN 

AND  THE  PRESENT  ONE  WERE  CREATED— ORGANIZATION  AND  METHODS 
OF  THE  DEPARTMENT— BRA A^E  MEN— STATION  HOUSE  SCENES— AN  IM- 
PORTANT BUREAU. 

NO  city  in  the  world,  except  London  and 
Paris,  has  a  police  which  in  efficiency,  disci- 
pline, and  character,  equals  that  of  New  York.  It 
took  many  years,  many  experiments,  and  many 
changes,  to  perfect  the  system.  Previous  to  1884, 
New  York  Avas  guarded  by  the  "  Old  Leather- 
heads."  This  force  patrolled  the  city  at  night, 
or  that  part  of  it  known  as  the  lamp  district.  They 
Avere  not  watchmen  by  profession.  They'  were 
cartmen,  stevedores,  jDorters  and  laborers.  They 
Avere  distinguished  by  a  fireman's  cap  Avithout  front 
(lience  their  name,  leather-lieads)^  an  old  camlet  coat, 
and  a  lantern.  They  kept  out  of  harm's  Avay,  and 
did  not  Aasit  the  dark  portions  of  the  city.  Thieves 
and  rogues  Avere  advised  of  their  locality  by  their 
crying  the  hour  of  the  night.  The  Avhole  city  above 
Fourteenth  Street  Avas  a  neglected  region.  It  Avas 
beyond  the  lamp  district,  and  in  the  dark.  Under 
Mayor  Harper  an  attempt  Avas  made  to  introduce  a 
municipal  police,  uniformed  and  disciplined,  after  the 


The  New  York  Police. 


159 


new  London  system.  Popular  sentiment  was  too 
strong  to  make  the  attempt  a  success,  but  it  was  a 
step  in  the  right  direction,  and  produced  good  results. 
The  old  w^atch  system  was  abolished,  and  a  day  and 
night  police  created  for  one  year  as  an  experiment. 
The  force  had  miscellaneous  duties  to  perform.  Po- 
licemen were  to  keep  the  peace,  light  the  street  lamps, 
be  dock-masters,  street-inspectors,  health-officers,  and 
fire-wardens.  The  police  w^ere  in  the  hands  of  the 
Mayor  and  Aldermen.  They  did  the  will  of  as  un- 
scrupulous and  corrupt  a  band  of  men  as  ever  held 
power — men  who  were  unscrupulous  partisans  and 
politicians.  Tlie  guardians  of  the  city  were  the  tools 
of  corrupt  and  designing  men  ;  a  terror  to  good  people, 
and  an  ally  of  rogues.  Citizens  slept  in  terror,  and 
all  New  York  arose  and  demanded  a  reform. 

ATTEMPT  AT  EEFORM. 

Mr.  Havemeyer  became  Mayor.  His  first  work  was 
to  rescue  the  police  from  the  hands  of  politicians.  He 
was  a  Democrat,  and  did  not  want  the  odium  of  failure 
to  fall  on  his  party.  Selecting  good  men  from  all 
parties  to  be  on  the  police,  he  wanted  the  govern- 
ment to  be  composed  of  Whigs  and  Democrats  also. 
Of  the  newly-constructed  force,  George  W.  Matsell 
was  made  the  chief.  Rigid  rules  were  made  for  the 
appointment  of  policemen.  Applications  must  be 
made  in  wilting,  with  recommendations  from  well- 
known  citizens.  The  antecedents  of  candidates  were 
inquired  into,  and  they  were  examined  in  reading, 
writing,  and  physical  soundness.  A  vigorous  and 
efficient  body  of  men  became  guardians  of  the  city. 


160  WONDEES  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


The  police  wore  no  uniforms  or  badge  of  authority, 
except  a  star. 

After  a  number  of  years  the  police  force  became, 
as  before,  the  tool  of  corrupt  politicians.  Their 
fidelity  was  tampered  with,  and  their  efficiency 
marred.  The  board  of  aldermen,  the  most  corrupt 
that  New  York  ever  knew,  made  the  force  an  instru- 
ment of  their  will.  The  police  were  in  their  power, 
and  they  could  break  them  at  will.  The  aldermen 
interfered  directly  with  the  execution  of  justice. 
They  were  magistrates  as  well  as  aldermen.  The 
rogues  of  the  city  were  their  friends.  If  the  police 
made  arrests,  the  aldermen  discharged  the  prisoner, 
and  probably  punished  the  officer.  Nothing  was  safe 
in  New  York,  and  general  alarm  prevailed.  Great 
crimes  were  openly  committed  and  unpunished.  They 
were  put  into  the  hands  of  a  commission,  composed 
of  the  recorder,  the  city  judge,  and  the  mayor. 

UiarOEM  EEBELLION. 

The  new  commission  decided  to  uniform  the  force. 
The  police  refused  to  wear  it.  They  were  no  serfs, 
they  said,  and  Avould  wear  no  l^adge  of  servility  to 
please  any  one.  Politicians,  mad  that  their  power 
was  gone,  fomented  the  discontent,  strengthened  the 
rebellion,  and  promised  to  stand  by  the  police  in 
their  defiance  of  law.  An  indignation  meeting  was 
called,  and  the  arbitrary  and  servile  order  de- 
nounced. Mayor  Westervelt  and  Recorder  Tillon, 
the  commissioners,  were  men  not  to  be  trifled  with. 
They  dismissed  at  once  every  man  connected  with 
the  meeting.  The  refractory  men  denied  the  right 
of  the  commission  to  dismiss  them.    They  appealed 


The  New  York  Police.  161 


to  the  court,  and  after  an  exciting  and  almost  turbu- 
lent hearing,  the  dismissal  was  sustained. 

While  honest  men  filled  the  office  of  mayor,  re- 
corder, and  ]udge,  the  force  was  efficient;  but  when 
bold,  unscinipulous,  and  corrupt  men  bore  rule,  the 
worst  days  of  the  police  came  back,  and  they  be- 
came again  mere  tools  of  personal  and  political  am- 
bition. The  people  again,  without  distinction  of 
party,  cried  to  the  Legislature  for  relief. 

METEOPOPITAN  SYSTEM. 

It  was  necessary  to  take  the  police  out  of  the  hands 
of  New  York  officials,  who  depended  on  rogues  and 
rascals  for  their  nomination  and  election.  The  low 
foreign  population  of  New  York,  keepers  of  dens  of 
infamy,  the  depraved,  the  dissolute,  and  the  violators 
of  law,  who,  in  the  vilest  places,  nominated  the  high- 
est officers,  and  who  could  elect  men  or  defeat  them, 
would  not  be  much  afraid  of  officers  who  could  be  dis- 
missed or  discharged  at  the  beck  of  theii^  fiiends.  So 
the  Metropolitan  District  was  created,  including  the 
City,  Brooklyn,  Richmond,  King's,  a  part  of  Queen's, 
and  Westchester  counties,  making  a  circuit  of  about 
thirty  miles.  The  authority  was  vested  in  a  board  of 
commissioners,  composed  of  five  citizens,  and  the  may- 
ors of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  the  board  to  be  under 
the  control  of  the  Legislature.  Fernando  Wood  was 
mayor  of  the  city.  He  saw  the  aim  of  the  new  law 
and  resolved  to  resist  it.  The  old  board  held  over, 
and  refused  to  resign.  Mr.  Wood  inaugurated  civil 
war  on  a  small  scale.  He  gathered  the  old  force  into 
the  City  Hall,  and  resisted  unto  blood.  The  old  police, 
having  nothing  to  hope  from  the  new  order  of  things, 


162 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


joined  Mr.  Wood  in  his  defiance  of  law.  Tlie  resist- 
ance took  a  political  shape.  The  whole  city  was  ex- 
cited. It  was  said  that  the  gutters  would  run  with 
blood.  A  riot  broke  out  in  the  Park.  The  Seventli 
Regiment,  marching  down  Broadway  to  embark  for 
Boston,  were  halted  in  front  of  the  City  Hall,  and 
grounded  their  arms,  ready  for  a  general  fray.  The 
case  was  taken  into  the  courts.  Charles  O'Connor,  who 
defended  Wood,  pledged  his  professional  reputation 
to  the  crowd  that  the  Court  of  Appeals  would  sustain 
his  client.  The  police  bill  was  pronounced  constitu- 
tional, and  Mr.  Wood  appeared  and  took  his  seat  at 
the  board  as  one  of  the  commission. 

GEIS-EKAL  SUPEKmTEifDENTS. 

The  efficiency  of  the  new  order  of  things  would 
depend  very  much  upon  the  general  superintendent, 
w^ho  was  the  executive  officer.  The  choice  fell  on 
Frederick  A  Talmadge,  formerly  recorder  of  the  city, 
an  upright,  honest  man,  but  with  scarcely  an  element 
that  made  him  fit  to  command  a  force  of  eighteen 
hundred  of  the  shrewdest  men  in  the  State.  Mr.  Amos 
Pilsbury  succeeded  Mr.  Talmadge.  He  was  in  charge 
of  the  State  Penitentiary  at  Albany.  As  a  manager 
of  criminals  he  had  no  equal.  The  penitentiary  of 
w^hich  he  was  warden  was  the  model  penitentiary  of 
the  land.  His  power  over  desperate  men  made  him 
famous  in  all  quarters  of  the  civilized  globe.  Men 
came  from  the  principal  cities  in  Europe  to  examine 
this  wonderful  institution.  The  penitentiary  was  as 
neat  as  a  Quaker  seminary.  No  millionaire  could 
boast  of  a  more  elegant  garden.    The  discipline  was 


The  New  York  Police.  163 


marvellous,  and  tlie  economy  by  whicli  tlie  institution 
was  managed  exceeded  all  praise.  The  State  Pauper 
Establishment,  at  Ward's  Island,  was  conducted  in 
a  most  extravagant  style.  Captain  Pilsbury  was 
called  down  to  reform  the  concern.  He  produced  a 
change  as  by  magic.  He  knew  to  a  farthing  what 
would  support  life,  how  much  a  pauper  ought  to  eat, 
how  many  should  sit  around  the  keej)er's  table,  and 
what  it  should  cost  to  supply  it.  He  bought  every 
cent's  w^orth  that  was  used  on  the  Island.  He  set 
hearty,  fat,  and  idle  paujDers  to  work.  He  made 
everybody  earn  his  own  bread.  The  sick  and  the 
indolent  he  banished.  His  success  in  infusing  econ- 
omy on  the  Island  was  marvellous.  He  flitted  back 
and  forth  between  Albany  and  New  York ;  and  to 
his  position  and  pay  as  warden,  he  added  the  emolu- 
ment and  authority  of  keeper  of  Ward's  Island. 

Mr.  Pilsbury  was  elected  Superintendent  of  Police. 
If  he  could  manage  desperate  men  in  prison,  and  make 
money  out  of  a  thousand  23aupers,  what  would  he  not 
do  with  a  police  force  of  eighteen  hundred  men  ?  He 
refused  the  appointment,  for  his  double  position  and 
double  pay  were  far  better  than  the  three  thousand 
dollars  offered  by  the  commission.  He  was  allowed  to 
retain  his  position  at  Albany  and  at  Ward's  Island,  with 
the  compensation  connected  with  each  office.  To  this 
was  added  three  thousand  dollars  a  year  as  superin- 
tendent. If  the  whole  did  not  amount  to  ten  thousand 
dollars  a  year,  the  balance  w^as  to  be  made  up  to  him 
by  the  commission.  His  appointment  was  hailed  with 
delight.  The  Harpers  published  a  portrait  of  the  com- 
ing man,  with  a  vigorous  life-sketch.    His  progress 


164  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


from  Albany  to  New  York  was  telegraphed.  His  con- 
nection with  the  force  was  a  lamentable  failure.  In 
prison  discipline  and  pauper  economy,  he  had  no 
rival ;  but  he  had  no  ability  to  control  a  large  body 
of  men,  shrewd  and  intelligent.  In  an  hour  they 
measured  him,  and  rode  over  him  rough  shod.  He 
divided  the  board  to  checkmate  Mr.  Wood,  and 
formed  a  ring  within  a  ring  all  against  himself.  He 
took  men  into  his  confidence  who  were  agents  of  his 
enemies,  and  who  betrayed  him.  Unabled  to  carry 
the  board  with  him  in  his  measure,  Mr.  Pilsbury  re- 
signed. He  had  no  chance  to  display  his  peculiar 
talents.  As  an  economist  he  was  not  wanted.  He 
handled  no  money,  and  his  order  to  the  value  of  a 
dollar  would  not  be  recognized.  To  marshal  men,  to 
move  and  control  them,  he  had  no  ability. 

John  Alexander  Kennedy  was  appoined  superin- 
tendent in  1860.  Important  changes  had  been  in- 
troduced into  the  law.  The  commission  was  reduced 
to  three.  The  superintendent,  the  inspectors  and  pa- 
trolmen had  their  duties  assigned  them.  But  com- 
plaints were  made  against  the  discipline  of  the  force. 
They  went  without  uniform  ;  could  not  be  found  when 
wanted ;  loimged,  smoked,  and  entered  houses  to  rest ; 
visited  drinking  saloons,  and  committed  other  mis- 
demeanors. A  new  rank  was  created.  Inspectors  were 
placed  over  the  captains,  and  made  responsible  for 
the  good  conduct  of  the  men  while  on  duty.  They 
went  everywhere,  and  at  all  times ;  watched  the 
captains,  examined  the  books  and  the  station-houses, 
and  reported  every  breach  of  discipline  that  they 
saw.    Their  coming  and  going  was  erratic.  They 


The  New  York  Police.  165 


turned  up  unexpectedly,  and  made  summary  com- 
plaints in  all  cases  where  officers  or  men  neglected 
their  duty. 

With  the  new  order  of  things,  Mr.  Kennedy  com- 
menced his  official  duties.  He  changed  the  public 
sentiment,  infused  military  discipline  into  the  corps, 
so  that  they  moved  to  a  riot  in  solid  colums  w^ith  the 
obedience  and  force  of  a  brigade.  The  uniform  is  no 
longer  regarded  as  a  badge  of  servility,  but  as  an 
honor  and  a  protection. 

THE  POLICE  AT  THEIR  WORK. 

The  London  police  dared  not  touch  a  man  unless  he 
has  committed  some  offence,  or  the  officers  have  a  war- 
rant. Well-known  thieves  and  burglars  walked  defiant- 
ly by  the  guardians  of  the  law,  and  know  that  no  man 
can  lay  finger  upon  them  unless  they  ply  their  profes- 
sion. A  dozen  robbers  and  pickpockets  may  go  into  a 
crowd,  or  into  a  place  of  amusement,  and  though  the 
police  know  what  they  are  there  for,  they  cannot  touch 
one  of  them  unless  they  actually  commit  some  crime. 
A  mob  of  ten  thousand  may  gather  in  St.  James'  Park, 
with  the  intent  of  sacking  Buckingham  Palace,  yet, 
until  they  begin  to  tear  down  the  fence,  or  do  some 
act  of  violence,  the  police  or  troops  have  no  power  to 
arrest  or  disperse  them.  A  royal  proclamation  might 
do  it.  So  sacred  is  personal  liberty  in  Great  Britain. 
But  our  police  can  arrest  on  suspicion  or  at  pleasure. 
They  scatter  a  mob,  and  bid  loiterers  pass  on  or  go  to 
the  station  house.  If  a  notorious  fellow  enters  a 
place  of  public  resort,  though  he  has  purchased  his 
ticket,  yet  he  will  be  ordered  to  leave  at  once  or  be 


166 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


locked  up.  At  a  great  public  gathering  in  the  night, 
say  Fourth  of  July,  when  tens  of  thousands  of  all 
characters  and  hues  gather  together,  among  whom  are 
the  most  desperate  men  and  women  in  the  world,  the 
crowd  will  be  as  orderly  as  a  church,  and  go  home 
quietly  as  an  audience  from  the  Academy  of  Music. 
In  the  draft  riots  of  1863,  the  police  marched  in  solid 
column  against  the  rioters,  and  obeyed  orders  as 
promptly  as  an  army.  They  broke  the  prestige  of  the 
mob  with  their  locusts,  and  scattered  the  miscreants 
before  the  military  arrived.  The  Prince  of  Wales 
and  Duke  of  Newcastle  expressed  astonishment  at  the 
ease  with  which  the  police  controlled  the  masses.  At 
the  reception  of  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  in 
London,  the  mob  overpowered  the  police,  seven  per- 
sons were  killed,  and  hundreds  of  men,  women  and 
children  crushed.  At  the  exhibition  of  tlie  Great 
Eastern  in  England,  pickpockets  swarmed  by  hun- 
dreds, and  thousands  of  pounds  were  stolen.  On  the 
exhibition  of  the  Great  Eastern  in  New  York,  she  was 
vif^ited  by  thousands  of  people,  only  six  policemen 
were  on  duty  and  not  a  dollar  was  lost. 

In  1870  the  Metropolitan  district  was  abolished, 
and  the  municipal  force  created,  with  jurisdiction  in 
New  York  City  only.  It  still  exists.  Its  control  is 
vested  in  four  commissioners  appointed  by  the  mayor. 
They  receive  an  annual  salary  of  $6,000  j)er  annum, 
except  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners, 
whose  pay  is  $8,000  a  year,  and  the  term  of  office  is 
six  years.  They  appoint  all  members  of  the  force, 
from  superintendents  down  to  patrolmen,  and  try  the 
same  for  violations,  punishing  by  fine  or  dismissal  as 


The  New  York  Police. 


167 


they  deem  fit.  They  also  appoint  the  twelve  hundred 
Inspectors  of  Election,  select  the  eight  hundred  and 
twelve  polling  places,  and  count  the  votes  cast.  The 
commission  is  equally  divided  as  to  political  com- 
plexion. 

General  Fitz  John  Porter  is  the  present  president  of 
the  Board.  Police  Headquarters  is  a  five-story  block 
running  through  from  Mulberry  to  Mott  Street,  and 
between  Bleecker  and  Houston  Streets.  In  it  are  the 
commissioners'  rooms,  the  trial  room,  superintendent's, 
inspectors',  detective  squad  and  rogues'  gallery.  The 
building  is  handsomely  fm^nished,  and  has  accommo- 
dations for  five  hundred  reserves.  Superintendent 
Murray  is  in  command  of  the  great  police  force,  which 
is  in  reality  a  goodly-sized  army.  The  city  is  divided 
into  four  districts  and  thirty-six  precincts.  Each  dis- 
trict is  in  charge  of  an  inspector,  who  ranks  next  to 
the  superintendent  in  point  of  place  and  power,  and 
each  precinct  is  in  charge  of  a  captain.  Each  captain 
has  a  couple  or  more  sergeants,  and  then  next  in  rank 
come  the  roundsmen.  The  sergeants  are  lieutenants 
to  the  captains,  and  the  roundsmen  next  in  rank  are 
assigned  to  certain  districts  of  each  precinct,  to  see 
that  the  patrolmen  do  their  respective  duties.  The 
force  comprises  about  three  thousand  six  hundred 
men.  A  captain's  annual  salary  is  $2,000  ;  sergeant's, 
$1,500 ;  roundsman's,  $1,200,  and  patrolman's,  $1,000. 
Then  there  are  special  squads,  such  as  the  Broadway, 
the  Grand  Central  Depot  and  Plarbor  police.  After 
twenty  years'  service  a  member  of  the  police  maybe 
retired  on  half  pay.  During  illness  members  are 
always  on  half  pay.    The  New  York  police  force  is 


168  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tie  best  drilled  body  of  peace  guardians  in  the  world, 
and  they  are,  like  the  firemen,  always  on  duty.  A 
policeman's  time  is  reckoned  by  periods  of  four  days, 
but  lie  has  no  Sundays  or  holidays  save  his  annual 
summer  leave  of  absence.  Beginning  at  6  p.  m.  on 
Sunday,  for  instance,  he  goes  on  duty  and  patrols  his 
post  until  midnight.  Then  he  remains  in  the  station 
house  of  his  precinct  until  6  a.  m.,  on  reserve  duty. 
Then  he  goes  out  for  eight  hours,  after  which  there 
is  four  hours  of  rest,  bringing  this  time  to  6  p.  m., 
Monday.  Then  he  goes  on  duty  again  for  six  hours, 
followed  by  six  hours  on  reserve  duty.  This  is 
followed  by  two  hours'  patrol  and  five  hours' 
reserve,  ending  at  1  p.  m.  Tuesday.  Then  begins  five 
hours'  patrol,  six  hours  in  the  station  house,  and  six 
hours  more  of  patrol,  ending  at  6  a.  m.  Wednesday 
morning,  after  which  he  is  ofE  duty  and  goes  where 
he  likes  until  6  o'clock  that  evening,  when  he  begins 
six  hours  of  patrol,  followed  by  eight  hours  of  reserve 
duty,  five  hours  of  patrolling  again,  then  a  rest  of 
eleven  hours  in  the  station  house,  then  another  six 
hours  of  post  duty,  and  at  6  on  Thursday  evening  he 
finds  himself  off  once  more  for  twelve  hours.  The 
following  morning  he  begins  it  all  over  again.  Thus 
once  in  eight  days  he  can  stay  at  home  all  day,  and 
every  eighth  night  he  can  sleep  at  home.  At  6  in  the 
morning  and  evening,  and  at  noon  and  midnight  the 
sergeant  on  duty  in  each  precinct  station  house  taps 
his  bell.  The  platoon  which  is  to  go  on  duty — each 
company  divided  into  two  sections  of  two  platoons 
each — files  in  from  the  waiting-room ;  dresses  ranks, 
answers  roll  call,  are  inspected  to  see  that  each  man 


I^E  New  York  Police.  ^  169 


has  his  club,  revolver,  fire  alarm  key,  and  handcuffs. 
Then  such  general  orders  as  have  come  from  head- 
quarters, either  by  telegraph  or  messenger — each 
precinct  being  connected  by  telegraph  with  head- 
quarters— are  read,  and  at  the  words,  "draw  batons," 
"right  face,"  "march!"  the  bluecoats  pass  out  and 
march  to  their  posts.  As  fast  as  relieved,  the  men 
who  have  been  on  duty  during  the  previous  six  hours 
return  to  their  respective  station  houses.  The  number 
of  arrests  made  by  the  police  annually  range  from 
eighty-five  thousand  to  ninety  thousand.  Of  this 
number  more  than  one-fourth  are  for  intoxication. 
The  annual  cost  of  the  police  force  is  something  like 
five  millions. 

ALWAYS  ON  HAND. 

It  is  common  cant  "that  a  policeman  is  always 
present — except  when  wanted,"  says  a  writer  in  one 
of  the  magazines.  In  the  lower  part  of  New  York  this 
is  an  unjust  charge.  How  far  will  you  walk  in  the 
region  of  Canal  street,  for  instance,  before  meeting 
a  policeman^ — that  is  if  you  look  for  one,  for  it  is  his 
policy  to  remain  inconspicuous  ?  Lower  Broadway, 
dim  and  gloomy  at  midnight,  is  full  of  police,  trying 
doors  to  see  that  all  are  securely  closed,  peering 
through  the  little  peep-holes  in  iron  shutters,  to  see 
that  no  burglars  are  at  work  in  the  stores,  or  that 
an  incipient  fire  is  not  working  insidious  destruction; 
lurking  out  of  sight  in  shady  doorways,  while  they 
watch  suspicious  loungers  ;  or  standing  in  groups  of 
two  or  three  on  the  corners  where  posts  intersect, 
and  a  roundsman  has  happened  to  join  them.  Leav- 


1 70  Wonders  of  a  Gee  a  t  City. 

ing  Broadway  and  glancing  down  dark  and  fearful 
back  streets,  like  Bayard,  Elizabeth,  West,  Houston, 
Roosevelt,  Bleecker  or  Sullivan,  you  are  sure  to  see 
the  flickering  light  of  the  street  lamps,  and  the  ruddy 
glare  of  red  sign  lanterns,  reflected  from  the  silver 
shield  and  brass  buttons  of  a  patrolman.  Go  where 
you  may,  you  meet  these  erect  and  wide-awake 
watchmen.  They  are  strolling  through  the  deserted 
avenues  of  Washington  market;  they  are  keeping  an 
eye  on  rogues  in  Madison  Square ;  they  are  rowing 
silently  in  and  out  of  the  shadows  of  the  great  ships 
lying  asleep  at  the  wharves  ;  they  are  cat-napping 
as  ^reserves'  in  the  station  houses,  ready  on  telegraphic 
summons  to  go  to  the  care  if  a  fire  or  the  subduing 
of  a  riot.  The  worshiper  coming  from  his  w^eekly 
prayer  meeting,  finds  the  policemen  at  the  door,  en- 
forcing his  coveted  quiet.  The  family  that  goes  for 
a  day's  recreation  at  Rockaway,  or  Coney  Island, 
is  sure  that  its  pleasure  will  not  be  spoiled  by  rowdy- 
ism, for  a  group  of  officers  stand  on  the  deck,  seem- 
ingly absorbed  in  the  magnificence  of  the  summer's 
morning  on  the  bay?  Yet  ready,  ready!  The  opera 
glasses  sweeping  the  audience  at  opera  house  or 
theatre,  catch  a  sight  of  a  blue  coat  or  two  behind 
the  sheen  of  silks  and  satins. 

The  police  of  New  York  are  always  on  hand,  and 
they  are  rightly  termed  members  of  the  "bravest 
and  finest."  They  are,  as  a  rule,  men  of  indomita- 
ble courage,  muscles  of  iron  and  nerves  of  steel. 
They  are  to  the  police  department?  of  other  cities 
what  Napoleon's  "Old  Guard,"  Avas  to  the  legions 
of  France.    The  police  of  Chicago,  Philadelphia, 


The  New  York  Police. 


171 


Brooklyn,  Boston,  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis  and  other 
cities,  are  travesties  on  justice,  as  compared  to  the 
New  York  police.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  police 
bravery.  Some  years  ago,  "Mulligan's  Hall,"  was 
a  basement  saloon  in  Broome  street.  It  had  been 
growing  worse  and  worse,  and  one  evening  Captain 
Williams,  known  to  the  world  as  "Clubber"  Wil- 
liams, and  the  officer  on  that  post,  went  in.  They 
found  thirty-eight  persons  of  every  color  and  na- 
tionality, all  of  the  worst  character  and  some  noto- 
rious in  crime.  Captain  Williams  took  in  the  situ- 
ation at  a  glance,  and  determined  to  arrest  the  whole 
party.  Placing  his  back  to  the  front  door,  he  cov- 
ered the  crowd  with  his  revolver,  and  threatened 
to  shoot  the  first  man  who  moved.  Then  he  sent 
the  patrolman  to  the  station  for  the  reserves,  and 
for  nearly  half  an  hour  he  held  that  crowd  of 
desperadoes  at  bay.  They  glared  at  him,  squirmed 
and  twisted  in  their  places,  scowled  and  grated 
clenched  teeth,  itched  to  get  out  at  their  knives  and 
cut  him  to  pieces ;  but  all  the  while  the  stern  mouth 
of  that  revolver  looked  at  them — looked  tliem  out 
of  countenance,  and  the  steady  nerve  behind  it  held 
sway  over  their  brutal  ferocity.  Captain  Williams 
stood  the  tesfc  and  saved  his  life.  He  Avonders  now  why 
they  did  not  shoot  him  a  dozen  times.  Certainly  it 
was  not  because  they  had  any  scruples,  for  when 
help  came,  the  first  two  prisoners  sent  to  the  station, 
killed  officer  Burns  with  a  paving  stone  before  they 
had  gone  two  blocks.  Captain  Allaire  made  an 
almost  precisely  similar  raid  on  the  famous  "Burnt 
Rag"  saloon  in  Bleecker  street,  one  winter's  night ; 


172 


Wonders  of  a  Oreat  Gity. 


and  young  Captain  McCullougli,  of  the  Fifth  Pre- 
cinct, if  I  remember  rightly,  recently  went,  accom- 
panied by  a  few  men,  to  an  Anarchist  Hall  where 
the  "Bloody"  Most  was  conducting  one  of  his  most 
^  fiery  meetings.  First  stationing  his  men  at  the  doors 
and  windows.  Captain  McCullough  ascended  the  plat- 
form and  ordered  the  meeting  to  adjourn  and  the  audi- 
ence quietly  dispersed.  Throw  him  out !  kill  him  cried 
fifty  men  at  once  ;  and  there  was  a  rush  for  the 
platform.  Captain  McCullough  struck  down  a  half 
dozen,  including  the  cowardly  Johann  Most,  his  men 
clubbed  a  score  of  the  most  blatant,  and  then  the 
entire  crowd  was  arrested  and  conducted  to  the 
station  house.  Were  that  splendid  young  city  of 
Chicago,  policed  like  New  York,  it  would  have  no 
Anarchists  or  Socialists,  who  dared  utter  their  per- 
nicious revolutionary  theories  above  a  whisper.  One 
Haymarket  bomb-throwing  scene  would  be  sufiSci- 
ent.  Its  authors  and  participants  who  escaped  death 
by  the  police  club  or  pistol,  would  be  driven  into 
the  lake  or  river  and  drowned,  and  there  would  be 
no  material  left  for  long  and  costly  Anarchist's 
trials. 

POLICE  STATION  SCENES. 

The  scenes  to  be  witnessed  in  a  police  station  are 
always  of  a  nature  especially  interesting.  Many  is 
the  evening  the  writer  has  dropped  into  the  East  Side 
station  houses,  either  Captain  Allaire's,  McCullough's, 
Petty's,  or  the  late  Captain  Tynan's,  and  sat  for  hours 
with  the  sergeant  in  charge,  studying  human  character. 
Each  station,  apart  from  its  score  or  more  of  cells, 


The  New  York  Police.  173 


contains  what  are  called  lodging  rooms,  where  tramps 
and  unfortunates  are  sheltered.  A  lodging  room  is 
devoid  of  everything  which  would  tend  to  the  com- 
fort of  a  lodger.  A  long  platform  along  one  side 
comprises  the  bed,  and  there  are  no  chairs.  Into  such 
quarters  the  applicants  for  shelter  are  placed,  the 
sexes  being  separated.  They  are  turned  out  at  day- 
break, and  the  entire  room  washed  out  by  means  of  a 
hose.  A  majority  of  the  lodgers  are  professional 
vagrants.  When  the  platform  is  filled,  as  it  usually  is 
of  a  cold  night,  the  late  comers  are  obliged  to  take  the 
floor,  and  then  a  room  will  contain  at  least  three  score 
disreputables  and  unfortunates.  The  place  is  heated 
by  steam,  and  the  stench  becomes  well  nigh  unbear- 
able to  anything  like  civilized  nostrils.  One  bitter 
cold  night  I  remember  an  evening  with  the  office  ser- 
geant. It  was  after  ten  o'clock  and  very  little  doing. 
A  woman  in  a  faded  black  dress,  battered  bonnet,  and 
whose  face  looked  as  though  it  was  a  stranger  to  soap 
and  water,  was  the  first  caller. 

"Can  I  have  a  night's  lodging,  sir?"  she  asked,  ap- 
proaching the  desk. 

"When  did  you  wash  your  face  last?"  inquired  the 
sergeant. 

"In  Philadelphia,  sir,  yesterday.  I  came  from 
there. 

"What  are  you  doing  in  New  York?" 

"It's  a  long  story,  sir,"  she  began,  "and  one  you  are 
not  interested  in.  A  man  deceived  me  and  broke  my 
heart,  and  I  have  come  over  here  to  find  him,  for  I 
know  he  is  in  this  city-" 

"How  did  he  deceive  you?" 


174 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


"The  way  the  men  always  do.  He  got  the  best  of 
me  because  he  promised  to  many  me,  and  I  was  inno- 
cent enough  to  believe  him.  When  he  tired  and  I 
fell  sick  he  deserted  me,  but  I'll  find  him  or  die. " 

"Pass  on  inside  to  the  matron,"  nodded  the  official, 
and  the  woman  disappeared  behind  the  huge  inner 
door  which  led  to  the  cells  and  lodging  rooms.  "Her 
story  is  an  old  one,  and  she  has  probably  been  telling 
it  for  years,  but  I  don't  remember  to  have  seen  her 
before,"  commented  the  sergeant. 

The  next  moment  the  street  door  opened  mth  a 
crash,  and  a  policeman  appeared  with  a  prisoner. 
The  latter's  face  was  bmised  and  bleeding,  his  gar- 
ments Avere  sadly  disarranged,  and  his  breath  was 
louder  than  a  beer  vat. 

"What  is  the  charge?"  asked  the  sergeant,  as  he 
turned  to  the  blotter  to  enter  up  the  prisoner's  name, 
nativity,  etc. 

"Drunk  and  disorderly,"  replied  the  policeman. 
"He  had  several  fights,  and  finally  wound  vo^  by 
getting  thrown  out  of  a  Delancy  street  saloon,  and  I 
had  to  take  him  in  charge. " 

The  next  comers  were  two  flashily-dressed  young 

women.    They  swore  vehemently  that  Madame  

OAved  them  twenty-five  dollars  a  piece;  that  she  de- 
clined to  pay  them  because  she  was  afi^aid  they  would 
leave  her  house  if  she  did,  and  they  wanted  a  police- 
man to  go  back  to  the  house  with  them  and  make  the 
madame  settle.  The  sergeant  declined  to  interfere 
in  tlie  uiatter,  and  the  females  departed  swearing  like 
pirates. 

Presently  an  officer  came  in  with  a  prisoner  who 


The  New  York  Police.  175 


looked  as  tliougli  he  had  been  drunk  for  a  week.  His 
plug  liat  was  smashed  in,  his  Prince  Albert  coat  was 
soiled  and  torn  and  his  hair  was  full  of  ashes,  betray- 
ing the  fact  that  at  some  period  of  his  drunk  he  had 
pitched  head  first  into  a  garbage  barrel. 

"Drunk  and  disorderly,  sir,"  explains  the  officer;  "T 
caught  him  climbing  an  elevated  road  pillar  in  the 
Bow^ery.  He  said  he  always  w^ent  up  to  his  room  by 
the  fire  escape  when  he  returned  home  late,  because 
he  did  not  wish  to  arouse  the  occupants  of  the  house. " 

The  prisoner  was  too  full  for  utterance;  he  swayed 
to  and  fro  in  front  of  the  desk,  and  attempted  to  look 
solemn  while  the  patrolman  told  his  short  story.  He 
was  too  drunk  to  give  his  name,  and  was  carried  below 
and  given  a  cell  to  sober  up  in. 

The  next  incident  worthy  of  note  was  at  midnight, 
when  an  officer  ran  in  from  the  direction  of  the  cells 
and  announced:  "The  woman  in  number  ten  has  com- 
mitted suicide- — hung  herself  The  sergeant  ordered 
the  officer  to  remain  in  charge  of  the  room  and  hurried 
to  the  cell  in  question.  I  followed  him.  We  found 
the  cell  door  open,  and  the  doorman  in  the  act  of 
cutting  the  woman  down.  She  had  been  locked  up 
for  shoplifting;  it  was  her  first  acquaintance  with  the 
police  and  the  knowledge  of  her  disgrace  weighed  so 
heavily  upon  her  mind  that  she  formed  a  noose  of 
her  garters  and  handkerchief,  and  tried  hanging.  She 
was  a  young  and  not  an  ill-looking  woman.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  moments  she  was  revived,  and  then 
became  so  hysterical  that  an  ambulance  was  sum- 
moned, and  she  was  conveyed  to  Bellevue  Hospital. 

The  next  callers  were  two  tough-looking  tramps. 


176  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


"Cap'n,"  began  tlie  spokesman,  in  a  very  thick  voice, 
"pard  and  myself  is  busted;  can't  you  give  us  a 
shake-down  for  the  night?" 

"All  right,"  acquiesced  the  sergeant,  and  address- 
ing the  doorman,  "Show  these  men  back." 

"You  hain't  got  a  chew  o'  tobacker,  Cap'n,  you  can 
let  a  feller  have?"  coolly  inquired  the  spokesman, 
who  felt  considerably  emboldened  by  his  success  in 
obtaining  lodgings  for  the  night. 

"No,  I  hain't,"  answered  the  sergeant,  imitating 
the  voice  and  manner  of  the  tramp,  "but  a  little  later 
on  I  will  send  you  in  an  oyster  supper,  a  couple  of 
quarts  of  Pommery  Sec,  a  dozen  Henry  Clays  or 
Reinas,  and  perhaps  a  few  other  delicacies. " 

Half  an  hour  later,  four  policemen  came  in,  bear- 
ing a  rudely  improvised  stretcher,  upon  which  a 
badly  wounded  man  lay  in  an  unconscious  condition. 
Two  more  policemen  brought  up  the  rear  with  a 
handcuffed  man  in  their  charge.  He  was  the  assail- 
ant of  the  wounded  man.  He  had  set  upon  his  vic- 
tim in  an  Orchard  street  dive  and  stabbed  him. 
Then  when  the  officers  came  he  resisted  arrest,  and 
it  was  found  necessary  to  club  him  into  submission. 
An  ambulance  was  called  to  convey  the  wounded 
man  to  the  hospital,  and  the  knife  wielder  was 
locked  up. 

BUREAU  OF  GEKERAL  INFORMATION. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting,  if  not  the  most 
important,  of  the  many  ramifications  of  the  police 
department  which  have  sprung  into  existence  of  late 
years.    Like  many  other  reforms  or  improvements 


The  New  York  Police. 


Ill 


in  organization,  it  owes  its  formation  to  Superin- 
tendent Murray.  It  was  jDlaced  under  the  immediate 
control  of  Inspector  Steers,  from  wliom  tlie  following 
accurate  statistics  have  been  mainly  derived.  For- 
merly the  picking  up  of  wandering  children  and  saving 
missing  girls  had  no  special  officers  charged  with 
such  business,  but  that  has  all  been  changed  now,  and 
ten  times  more  work  is  accomplished  with  a  tithe  of 
the  labor,  and  everything  goes  on  with  the  exactitude 
of  clockwork.  It  is  now  as  thoroughly  organized  as 
the  force  on  board  a  line-of-battle  ship.  Everything 
is  conducted  by  rule,  and  centered  in  one  head. 

"The  office  corps,"  said  the  Inspector,  "is  under  the 
command  of  two  sergeants,  a  roundsman,  and  one 
patrolman,  while  in  emergencies  we  call  in  the  assist- 
ance of  policemen  from  the  superintendent's  office 
and  my  own  district.  In  the  office  are  five  large 
books,  ruled  in  columns,  with  printed  heads.  The 
entries  were  models  of  bookkeeping  and  penmanship, 
and  the  sergeant  might  well  have  every  reason  to 
be  proud  of  them.  They  were:  "Kecord,  Found 
Dead,  Unidentified;"  "Record  of  Missing  Persons 
"Record  of  Runaways;"  "Record  of  Lost  Children;" 
"Record  of  Foundlings."  In  addition  to  these  were 
scrapbooks  containing  all  letters  of  inquiry,  files  and 
packets  of  miscellaneous  and  pertinent  matter  dock- 
eted for  possible  use,  in  numerical  and  alphabetical 
order.  In  addition  to  the  cases  which  come  in  regu- 
lar order,  there  are  isolated  cases  which  have  to  be 
attended  to. 

Now  and  then  people  have  asked  a  policeman  to 
take  them  home,  and  can't  remember  where  they 


178 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


live ;  they  are  sent  to  tlie  Bureau,  and  the  officer  in 
charge  sends  for  their  friends.  There  are  cases  where 
the  lost  forget  their  names  and  addresses,  but  re- 
member certain  localities  and  people.  They  fre- 
quently get  so  nervous  about  being  absent  from 
home  that  they  work  themselves  up  into  a  sad  state 
of  mind." 

"Now,  this  book  will  show  you  the  unidentified 
dead  at  the  morgue,"  continued  the  Inspector:  "The 
description  of  the  body  Avhen  it  was  in  a  condition 
to  be  described,  a  minute  account  of  the  clothing 
found  on  the  corpse,  and  any  other  ^particulars  which 
might  lead  to  identity ;  also,  an  account  of  the  find- 
ing of  the  body,  by  whom  found,  the  place  and  time, 
and  any  cuts,  marks,  or  evidences  of  death." 

The  sergeant  then  showed  the  report  made  by  the 
policeman  stationed  at  the  morgue.  There  in  red  ink 
was  written  in  the  names  of  the  persons  claiming  the 
body. 

"The  description  of  the  missing  sometimes  corre- 
sponds with  the  description  here, "  said  the  sergeant, 
^  pointing  at  the  entries.    "We  then  notify  the  friends 

of  the  absent  ones  to  go  to  the  morgue. 

"You  have  no  idea  of  the  great  number  of  people 
who  are  reported  here  as  missing.  During  the  past 
three  months  there  have  been  at  least  four  hundred. 
The  letters  of  inquiry  come  from  all  over  the  world. 
Read  this  column:  Auckland,  New  Zealand,  Ger- 
many, Russia,  Sweden,  Australia,  England,  Italy  and 
Turkey — brothers,  sisters,  husbands,  sons,  friends. 
W^U,  if  there  were  not  so  many  of  them  I  might 
pick  out  some  interesting  incidents.    We  search,  and 


The  New  York  Police. 


179 


in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  one  hundred  we  find  them 
either  here  or  somewhere  else. " 

"Missing  girls,  did  you  say  ?  Yes,  glance  over  this 
book,  the  ^Record  of  Runaways'  from  the  country  ? 
No,  most  all  from  Brooklyn,  this  city  and  close  by. 
Older  women  tell  them  fancy  tales  about  gilded  ease, 
fine  clothes  and  high  living.  They  get  a  taste  of  fast 
life  for  a  week,  get  homesick,  and  we  find  them.  The 
police  have  made  it  rather  dangerous  for  the  land- 
lady to  harbor  young  girls.  When  a  young  girl  under 
sixteen  is  enticed  into  a  house  of  ill-fame,  the  land- 
lady is  apt  to  send  for  a  policemen,  who  aiTests  them. 
Then  again  some  young  girls  run  off  to  see  the  sights. 
Recently  a  telegram  was  received  from  the  Chief  of 
Police  of  Providence  giving  a  description  of  two 
young  girls  who  had  left  there  by  the  Stonington 
boat.  They  were  arrested  and  held  until  one  girl's 
father  came  on  for  both  of  them.  The  despatch  said ; 
"They  may  look  for  situations  in  a  dime  show." 
Matron  Webb  looked  after  them  while  they  were 
here,  so  they  did  not  even  see  the  outside  of  a  dime 
show.  Small  boys  and  ambitious  youngsters  arrive 
in  this  city.  After  a  few  days,  especially  when  their 
money  is  gone,  they  get  homesick  and  appear  in  a 
police  station  to  request  the  police  to  send  them 
home.  Their  parents  are  notified  and  they  are  sent 
for.  The  experience  does  them  good.  They  learn 
what  a  good  thing  home  is. 

"These  red  ink  entries  are  about  children  who  have 
been  brought  here  and  no  one  has  called  for.  You 
can't  tell  where  they  come  from,  they  travel  so  far. 
When  the  weather  is  pleasant  we  find  on  an  average 


180  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


forty  cliildren  a  night.  The  other  night  a  policeman 
brought  a  little  chap  in  asleep  in  his  arms.  He  had 
been  found  at  Montgomery  and  Madison  streets. 
His  parents  came  for  him.  They  were  nearly  wild 
Avith  fear.  They  could  not  believe  it  true  that  he 
could  have  wandered  from  his  home  in  East  Eleventh 
Street  and  Avenue  B,  a  distance  of  two  and  a  half 
miles.  He  was  only  tw^  and  a  half  years  old.  Last 
summer  a  little  kid  three  years  old  wandered  down 
from  New  Rochelle.  He  had  gone  on  the  steamboat 
at  Glen  Island  and  was  found  on  Avenue  A  at  ten 
o'clock  at  night.  One  funny  thing  about  the  older 
ones  is  that  they  are  such  little  liars.  One  little  girl 
gave  us  seventeen  addresses  and  all  wrong.  Her 
mother  came  and  claimed  her.  This  is  often  the 
way,  however.  They  will  keep  us  running  all  over 
the  city  on  false  addresses.  Why  they  lie,  for  the 
soul  of  me,  I  cannot  tell.  Kidnapping  ?  Nonsense. 
I  have  not  seen  a  single  case. 

"Last  year  the  police  found  one  hundred  and  ninety, 
nine  deserted  infants  in  baskets  or  wrapped  in  shawls 
in  doorways  or  in  the  streets.  There  were  thirty- 
eight  from  January  1  to  March  31,  and  the  usual  av- 
erage since  then.  The  twenty-third  precinct  reports 
the  most  foundlings.  They  vary  in  age  from  one  day 
to  eight  weeks.  Frequently  about  the  child's  neck 
there  is  some  trinket  to  assist  future  identification, 
and  often  notes  reading  "  it  has  been  christened ;  its 
name  is  John,  or  Dan,  or  William. "  Generally  the 
babes  are  comfortably  wrapped  up,  indicating  ma- 
ternal tenderness  even  though  in  the  act  of  abandon- 
ment. 


The  New  York  Police,  181 


Now  and  then  there  are  some  dreadful  cases  of 
atrocious  brutality  and  inhumanity.  One  bitter 
day,  the  coldest  of  the  winter,  a  woman  in  Orch- 
ard street  found  a  little  babe  scarce  an  hour  old, 
without  a  stitch  upon  it,  flat  on  the  frozen  pavement 
of  the  frozen  yard.  The  woman  who  found  it  wrapped 
something  warm  about  it,  and  a  policeman  got  an  am- 
bulance. The  surgeon  bandaged  the  child  besides 
doing  what  else  should  be  done  for  a  newly  born 
infant.  When  the  little  mite  was  brought  in  here  he 
Avas  kicking  and  crying  like  a  good  fellow.  He  will 
grow  up  tough. 

"On  the  10th  of  August  last  a  little  babe,  neatly 
dressed,  was  found  in  a  basket  deposited  in  a  hallway 
on  Eighth  Avenue.  A  policeman  took  it  down,  and 
the  following  entry  was  made  in  the  book,  after  citing 
where  it  was  found:  Blue  eyes,  dark  hair,  white  dress, 
underclothes  and  cap;  red  shawl.  Time,  half  past 
two  p.  M.  The  infant  was  sent  to  Matron  Webb,  and 
thence  to  Superintendent  Blake.  One  month  later  a 
neatly  dressed  woman  appeared  at  the  desk.  I  want 
'  to  know  about  a  baby  you  found  in  the  hallway  at 
No.  — ,  Eighth  Avenue,  on  August  10,  at  half-past 
two. " 

"It  is  all  right.    Is  it  yours?" 

"Yes,"  she  replied,  and  gave  a  description  of  the 
clothes. 

"How  dici  you  know  it  came  here?" asked  Sergeant 
Kass. 

"Because  I  saw  the  policeman  bring  it,  I  was 
watching  my  child  when  it  was  found.  I  had  to  give 
it  up  because  I  could  not  support  it.  I  can  now,  so 
I  have  come  for  it." 


182 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


"Do  you  know,"  said  the  sergeant,  much  moved, 
"that  you  have  broken  the  law  in  abandoning  your 
child?" 

"Yes,  I  know  it;  I  am  willing  to  go  to  jail,  but  I 
want  my  baby. " 

The  Seargeant  consulted  Inspector  Steers,  and  the 
Inspector  went  in  to  see  the  Superintendent.  It 
had  to  be  done.  She  had  broken  the  law,  and  con- 
sequently she  was  arrested.  She  was  given  a  com- 
fortable room  in  the  care  of  sympathetic  Matron 
Webb.  And  so,  as  lightly  as  possible,  the  law  visited 
the  poor  mother.  The  next  morning  she  was  taken 
before  the  Justice  and  told  her  story,  saying  that  she 
would  willingly  go  to  jail,  but  she  must  have  back 
her  baby.  The  Justice  was  touched  ;  his  heart  was 
softened  for  the  nonce,  and  he  discharged  the  woman 
and  ruled  that  she  be  given  the  custody  of  the  baby. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE  DETECTIVE  FOKCE. 

ITS  ORIGIN — INSPECTOR  BYRNE,  PRINCE  OF  HIS  PROFESSION — QUALIFICA- 
TIONS OP  A  DETECTIVE — HOW  THE  THIEF-TAKERS  DO  THEIR  WORK — 
STORIES  OF  ADVENTURES  BY  MEMBERS  OP  THE  CORPS — THE  ROGUE'S 
GALLERY. 

The  shrewdest  of  all  thief  takers  of  modern  years, 
is  Inspector  Byrne.  He  knows  every  criminal  of 
note  on  both  hemispheres,  and  his  reputation  is,  in 
a  word,  world  wide.  Inspector  Byrne  is  at  the  head 
of  the  New  York  Detective  Corps,  and  he  has  so 
thoroughly  organized  and  conducted  it  that  it  has 
attained  a  degree  little  short  of  perfection.  Begin- 
ning as  a  policeman  twenty-live  years  ago.  Inspector 
Byrne  arose  rapidly  until  he  became  Captain.  Then 
he  became  Inspector  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  de- 
tectives. The  squad  was  originally  organized  by 
George  W.  Matsell,during  his  superintendency.  When 
Mr.  Byrne  assumed  control,  some  fifteen  years  ago, 
it  was  very  crude,  comprising  only  a  dozen  men. 
Now  it  consists  of  about  one  hundred,  the  flower  of 
the  police  department. 

The  system  of  detectives  is  not  old.  In  former 
times  the  idea  of  a  sharp  criminal  officer  was  ex- 
pressed in  the  adage  "Set  a  thief  to  catch  a  thief . " 
The  modern  and  correct  theory  is,  that  integrity, 


184  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tact  and  industry,  are  the  best  qualifications  of  a  good 
detective.  For  many  years  there  existed  a  set  of 
men  in  London  known  as  Bow  Street  Ofiicers.  They 
were  remarkably  shrewd,  were  more  than  a 
match  for  the  sharpest  villains,  and  could  ferret  out 
crimes  and  out-wit  the  cleverest  rogues.  When  the 
London  Metropolitan  Police  System  was  adopted,  an 
order  of  men  were  introduced,  called  detectives. 
This  force  was  chosen  from  men  who  seemed  to  have 
especial  gifts  for  detecting  crime.  They  could  scent 
out  a  murderer,  and  track  the  perpetrator  over 
oceans  and  across  continents.  They  could  unravel 
the  mysteries  of  a  robbery  and  bring  to  light  deeds 
of  darkness.  Such  was  the  origin  of  the  fii^st  regular 
detective  body. 

Good  detectives  are  rare.  An  unblemished  character 
is  indispensable,  for  the  temptations  are  many.  A 
detective  must  be  quick,  talented,  and  possess  a  good 
memory  ;  cool,  unmoved,  able  to  suppress  all  emotion ; 
have  great  endurance,  untiring  industry,  and  keen 
relish  for  his  work ;  put  on  all  characters,  and  assume 
all  disguises;  pursue  a  trail  for  weeks,  or  months,  or 
years ;  go  anywhere  at  a  moment's  notice,  on  the  land 
or  sea ;  go  without  food  or  sleep ;  follow  the  slightest 
clew  till  he  reaches  the  criminal ;  from  the  simplest 
fragment  bring  crime  to  light;  surround  himself  with 
secrecy  and  mystery ;  have  great  force  of  will,  a 
character  v\'-ithout  reproach,  that  property  and  per- 
sons may  be  safe  in  his  hands,  with  a  high  order  of 
intellectual  power.  '  The  modern  detective  system  is 
based  on  the  theory  that  pm-ity  and  intelligence  has 
a  controlling  power  over  crime.  Detectives  must  be 
pure  men,  and,  like  Caesar's  wife,  be  above  suspicion 


The  Detective  Force. 


185 


when  they  come  out  from  the  ordeal  through  which 
they  have  to  pass.  To  obtain  the  right  kind  of  men 
the  force  has  often  to  be  sifted  and  purged. 

HOW  THE  DETECTIVES  DO  THEIR  WORK. 

Crime  is  not  only  systematized,  but  classified. 
Each  adroit  rogue  has  a  way  of  doing  things  which 
is  as  personal  as  a  man's  handwriting.  We  have 
really  few  great  men ;  great  orators,  men  of  mark, 
distinguished  authors,  or  men  of  towering  success, 
are  few.  If  a  princely  donation  is  made,  or  a  noble 
deed  done,  and  the  name  withheld,  the  public  at  once 
point  out  the  man — it  would  be  so  like  him.  Bad 
talented  men  are  few ;  adroit  rogues  are  not  many ; 
men  capable  of  a  dashing  robbery,  a  bold  burglary, 
or  great  crimes,  do  not  abound.  If  a  store  is  broken 
open  in  New  York,  a  bank  robbed  in  Baltimore,  or  a 
heavy  forgery  in  Boston,  the  detectives  will  examine 
the  work  and  tell  who  did  it.  As  painters,  sculptors, 
artists,  engravers,  have  a  style  peculiar  to  themselves, 
so  have  rogues.  A  Chicago  burglar,  a  safe  breaker 
from  Boston,  a  bank  robber  from  Philadelphia,  a  New 
York  thief,  have  each  their  own  way  of  doing  things. 
They  cannot  go  from  one  city  to  another  without 
observation.  If  a  crime  is  committed,  and  these 
gentlemen  are  around,  detection  is  sure  to  follow. 
The  telegraph  binds  the  detective  force  together  in 
all  parts  of  the  Union.  A  great  crime  is  telegraphed 
to  every  leading  city.  "When  an  adroit  rogue  leaves 
the  city  his  whereabouts  is  sent  over  the  wires.  The 
detective  on  his  track  is  the  gentlemanly-looking, 
affable  personage  with  whom  he  has  been  chatting 
in  the  railroad  car.    The  rogue  lands  in  New  York, 


186 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


and  the  friendly  hand  that  helps  him  up  the  gang- 
plank, or  ofE  the  platform,  is  that  of  a  detective.  A 
keen  eye  is  upon  him  every  moment  till  he  is  locked 
up  or  departs  from  the  city.  When  he  leaves,  the  car 
is  not  out  of  the  station  house  before  the  telegraph 
announces  to  some  detective  far  away  the  departure 
and  the  destination.  His  haunts  are  known,  his 
associates,  the  men  who  receive  stolen  goods,  and  his 
partners  in  crime. 

WHY  EOGUES  GO  CLEAE. 

The  detectives  often  recover  goods  and  money, 
while  the  criminals  escape.  People  wonder  why  the 
criminals  are  not  brought  to  punishment.  The  first 
duty  of  the  officer  is  to  bring  the  ofender  to  trial. 
But  this  cannot  always  be  done.  The  evidence  is 
often  insufficient.  The  next  best  thing  is  to  secure 
the  money  or  property.  Many  robberies  are  com- 
mitted in  places  of  ill-repute.  Parties  are  com- 
promised. Victims  coming  from  the  country,  who 
are  respectable  at  home,  do  not  like  to  read  their 
names  in  the  newspaper.  Hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  are  annually  returned  to  their  owners  through 
the  detectives  which  would  have  been  lost  without 
their  vigilance ;  but  in  many  instances  dishonest 
detectives  deliberately  divide  with  the  thieves.  This 
has  been  done  in  several  cases  of  bond  and  bank 
robberies.  By  "arrangement"  possibly  two-thirds  of 
the  plunder  has  been  returned,  and  the  remaining 
third  shared  by  the  thieves  and  the  catchers.  This 
business  enables  some  of  the  force  to  wear  big 
diamonds,  and  own  and  live  in  brown  stone  fronts, 
on  a  salary  of  $1,200  a  year. 


The  Detective  Force, 


187 


In  the  elegant  marble  building  on  Mulberry  street, 
where  tlie  Metropolitan  Police  force  center,  there 
will  be  found  the  headquarters  of  the  detectives. 
Though  it  is  under  the  charge  of  the  general  super- 
intendent, the  detectives  are  an  independent  body- 
within  the  police  force.  The  chief.  Inspector  Byrne, 
has  been  many  years  at  the  head  of  this  department. 
His  men  are  dressed  in  citizens'  clothes,  and  are  un- 
known to  the  patrolmen  until  they  exhibit  their 
shields.  They  are  silent,  suspicious,  secretive.  They 
never  talk  of  what  they  have  on  hand.  Of  the  past 
they  will  speak,  of  the  future  they  have  nothing  to 
say.  They  have  incidents  and  adventures  in  their 
possession  more  thrilling  than  any  criminal  novel 
ever  written.  In  their  room  I  passed  a  night  not 
long  since,  and  learned  from  them  the  romantic  inci- 
dents that  I  am  about  to  state. 

THE  AEEEST  OF  A  PICKPOCKET. 

Said  one  of  the  detectives,  "The  Inspector  called 
for  me  one  day,  and  put  a  case  in  my  hands,  which 
I  was  required  to  work  up.  A  gentleman  of  the 
city,  who  was  supposed  to  be  worth  a  fortune,  sud- 
denly failed.  His  failure  was  a  bad  one,  but  his 
honor  was  without  a  stain.  He  was  guardian  for 
two  orphan  children,  and  took  the  cars  one  morning 
for  the  purpose  of  investing  some  three  thousand 
dollars  that  he  held  in  the  name  of  the  children. 
When  he  reached  the  office  up  town,  where  the  invest- 
ment was  to  be  made,  he  found  his  money  was  gone. 
He  had  been  robbed  in  the  cars.  In  great  distress 
he  came  to  the  office,  and  communicated  his  loss  to 


188  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


the  inspector.  He  said,  Avhen  he  was  rich  his  tale  of 
robbery  would  have  been  believed  ;  now  he  was  poor, 
it  would  be  said  that  he  had  robbed  himself.  I  ex- 
amined the  man  closely,  and  had  no  doubt  that  his 
story  was  a  true  one.  He  had  but  little  light  to 
throw  on  the  robbery.  The  car  was  crowded,  and  he 
stood  on  the  platform.  He  remembered  that  during 
the  passage,  as  a  person  got  out  of  the  car,  a  young 
man  was  thrown  against  him.  He  had  a  dim  recol- 
lection of  the  person,  thinking  no  wrong  at  the  time. 
Car-robbing  is  very  common,  but  it  is  very  delicate 
business,  and  few  can  do  it  well.  I  had  my  suspicions 
as  to  who  committed  the  robbery.  I  took  a  car  to 
go  down  town.  In  it  was  the  very  person  I  was  in 
search  of.  His  new  clothes,  new  hat,  and  boots,  and 
w^atch,  indicated  that  he  was  flush.  I  stopped  the 
car,  touched  the  young  man  on  the  shoulder,  and  told 
him  to  follow  me.  His  face  crimsoned  in  an  instant, 
and  I  knew  that  I  had  got  my  man.  I  took  him  to 
the  station-house,  and  accused  him  of  the  crime.  I 
told  him  that  the  man  who  had  lost  the  money  would, 
in  the  language  of  pickpockets,  '  buff  him  to  death  ' 
if  he  did  not  restore  the  money;  but  if  he  would 
*  turn  up  the  money '  he  might  clear  out.  These  rob- 
bers, all  of  them,  have  accomplices.  They  never  can 
tell  when  they  '  peach.'  I  had  no  evidence  that 
would  convict  this  person.  No  judge  would  hold  him 
a  minute  on  my  suspicion,  but  the  thief  did  not  know 
that.  He  pulled  of?  his  boots,  and  the  money  came 
back,  all  but  one  hundred  dollars  which  he  had  speiit. 
The  grateful  merchant  received  it  with  tears  of  joy. " 


The  Detective  Force. 


189 


AN  OLD  MAN  m  TEOUBLE. 

"Very  few  men  wlio  come  here  for  relief,"  said  one 
of  tlie  detectives,  "tell  the  truth.  They  make  up  all 
sorts  of  stories  to  impose  upon  us,  to  save  their  repu- 
tation, and  to  keep  themselves  out  of  trouble.  If  a 
man  tells  us  the  truth ;  if  he  has  been  robbed  at  a 
bad  house,  and  will  say  so ;  will  give  us  the  number 
of  the  house,  and  describe  the  parties  by  whom  he 
has  been  robbed  or  wronged,  we  can  relieve  him. 
We  can  go  on  board  of  a  train  of  cars  filled  with 
hundreds  of  people,  and  tap  a  pickpocket  on  his 
shoulder,  and  say,  '  I  want  to  see  you,  sir,'  and  never 
make  a  mistake.  We  can  take  a  telegraphic  descrip- 
tion of  a  rogue,  and  with  it  walk  up  Broadway, 
where  thousands  are  rushing  along,  pick  out  our  man 
and  march  him  to  the  tombs,  and  never  get  the  wrong 
person.  One  day  a  sedate  looking  man  from  the 
rural  districts  called  at  our  office.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant, he  said.  He  came  to  the  city  to  buy  goods. 
He  had  been  robbed  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  which 
he  was  to  pay  that  day.  He  was  a  ruined  man  unless 
he  could  recover  his  money.  He  named  the  hotel 
where  he  stayed,  and  in  which  he  had  been  robbed. 
His  room-mate,  a  man  unknown  to  him,  was  asleep 
when  he  went  to  bed,  and  asleep  when  he  left  the 
room  in  the  morning.  He  had  not  been  out  of  the 
hotel  since  tea,  till  he  discovered  his  robbery.  The 
man  must  have  robbed  him,  and  he  wanted  him 
arrested  at  once.  Inspector  Byrne  was  satisfied  that 
the  man  was  not  telling  the  truth.  He  put  the  case 
in  my  hands,  and  ordered  me  to  work  it  up.    I  went 


190 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


to  the  hotel,  and  found  everything  right  there.  The 
room-mate  was  a  merchant  from  the  west,  of  un- 
questioned integrity.  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  man  had  not  told  us  the  truth.  I  knew  that  he 
had  been  out  of  the  hotel,  had  been  into  disreputable 
company,  and  had  been  robbed.  I  sent  for  the  vic- 
tim, and  he  came,  accompanied  by  a  friend,  who 
promised  to  vouch  for  his  honesty.  I  said  to  him, 
*  Sir,  you  have  lied  to  me.  You  lost  your  money  in 
bad  company  by  the  panel  game.'  At  first  he  denied 
it  with  great  vehemence,  then  he  evaded,  and  finally 
confessed.  With  a  slight  clew  as  to  the  locality,  I 
found  the  panel  thief,  and  brought  back  the  money. " 

A  IVIINISTER  I^f  TROUBLE. 

"One  day  some  very  excellent  people  came  to  the 
headquarters  to  complain.  The  city  was  unsafe  for 
respectable  men;  people  could  not  walk  about  the 
streets  without  assault  and  robbery.  It  was  a  pretty 
state  of  things  if  gentlemen  could  not  walk  the  streets 
of  New  York  at  seasonable  hours,  Avithout  being 
beaten,  bullied,  and  robbed,  and  theii*  life  endangered. 
^  And  what  is  the  matter  now?'  said  the  officer.  'We 
are  respectable  citizens,'  said  the  complainers,  '  and 
ofi[icers  of  a  church.  Our  minister  was  assaulted, 
and  beaten,  and  robbed  last  night  in  one  of  the 
streets.  He  came  over  to  !New  York  yesterday  after- 
noon on  business.  He  was  returning  througli  Beek- 
man  street  about  ten  o'clock.  When  near  ClifE  street 
a  band  of  rowdies  assaulted  him,  knocked  him  down, 
beat  him,  muddied  and  tore  his  clothes,  robbed  liiiii 
of  his  watch  and  money,  and  he  reached  his  affrighted 


The  Detective  Force. 


191 


family  almost  dead.'  The  case  was  put  into  our 
hands.  The  night  on  which  the  assault  was  said  to 
have  taken  place  was  a  beautiful,  bright  moonlight 
evening.  The  place  of  assault  was  so  near  the 
station  house,  that  the  cry  of  distress  would  have 
been  heard  by  the  captain  at  his  desk.  At  that  time 
of  night,  a  man  would  have  been  as  safe  on  Beekman 
street  as  on  Broadway.  It  so  happened  that  two  of 
our  officers  were  on  that  spot  within  five  minutes  of 
the  time  the  assault  was  said  to  have  taken  place, 
conversing  on  matters  that  detained  them  ten  or  fif- 
teen minutes.  I  was  satisfied  that  no  assault  had 
taken  place,  that  no  robbery  had  been  committed ; 
that  the  whole  story  was  trumped  uj)  to  hide  some 
disgraceful  conduct  in  which  the  party  said  to  have 
been  wronged  was  engaged. 

"With  this  impression,  I  sent  to  the  minister.  He 
was  greatly  annoyed  that  his  people  had  taken  any 
notice  of  the  matter,  or  brought  it  to  the  attention 
of  the  authorities.  I  told  him  it  had  been  broualit 
to  our  attention;  that' we  Avere  censured  for  neglect 
of  duty,  and  that  the  fame  of  the  city  suffered ;  that 
we  intended  to  probe  the  matter  to  the  bottom;  that  we 
intended  to  follow  him  every  step  that  he  had  taken 
that  afternoon,  fi'om  the  time  he  left  home  till  he 
returned.  We  would  know  all  his  companions,  and 
all  the  company  he  had  kept  that  day.  I  told  him 
his  story  was  an  improbable  one ;  that  it  was  impos- 
sible that  the  robbery  could  have  occurred  at  that 
time  or  place  ;  the  night  was#  too  light,  the  hour  was 
too  early,  it  was  too  near  tlie  station  house,  and  more 
than  that,  two  of  our  captains  were  on  that  spot 


192 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


at  that  time,  and  they  knew  the  story  was  not  true. 
If  he  had  a  mind  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and 
tell  the  facts  as  they  were,  I  would  keep  his  name 
from  the  public ;  if  not,  I  would  make  a  thorough 
investigation,  and  publish  his  name  to  the  world.  He 
was  greatly  agitated,  blamed  his  friends  for  meddling 
in  the  matter,  began  to  cry,  and  at  length  made  a 
clean  breast  of  it.  He  had  been  drinking  that  after- 
noon, went  where  he  ought  not  to  go,  and  was  robbed 
of  his  money  and  his  watch.  He  must  account  for 
his  situation,  did  not  want  to  be  disgraced,  and  so 
had  trumped  up  the  story  he  told  to  his  elders.  The 
affair  was  hushed  up." 

A  SEA  CAPT.UN  IN  DIFFICULTY. 

"The  harbor  police  notified  us,"  said  one  of  the 
detectives,  "that  a  ship  was  lost  off  Sandy  Hook  by 
fire.  As  tlie  case  was  reported,  there  were  some 
things  about  the  loss  that  did  not  look  right.  The 
next  day  the  papers  blazed  with  an  account  of  a  bold 
robbery.  It  was  said  that  a  sea  captain  lost  a  large 
sum  of  money  at  a  theatre.  The  captain  was  said  to 
have  been  peculiarly  unfortunate.  He  lost  his  shi]^ 
by  fire  off  Sandy  Hook.  He  had  just  been  paid  his 
insurance,  a  very  large  sum,  which  he  was  to  take  to 
his  owners  in  New  England.  He  visited  the  theatre 
with  the  money  in  his  pocket,  and  on  leaving  the 
place  it  was  gone.  The  audacious  robbery  flamed  in 
every  paj)er.  The  statements  were  so  nearly  ver- 
batim, that  it  was  evident  the  captain  had  written 
them  himself,  or  furnislied  the  material.  The  captain 
issued  handbills,  offering  a  reward  of  five  hundred 


7^E  Detective  Force,  193 


dollars  for  tlie  recovery  of  his  money.  The  hand- 
l)ills  were  circulated  only  among  tlie  shipping  and 
on  the  wharves.  In  a  few  days  we  received  a  visit 
from  the  ca]3tain  at  headquarters.  I  was  put  in 
charge  of  the  case,  and  took  down  the  captain's 
statement.  It  diifered  but  slightly  from  those  made 
in  the  papers.  I  was  satisfied  that  he  had  not  been 
robbed  at  all.  I  strongly  suspected  that  there  was 
foul  play  in  the  destruction  of  his  vessel,  and  that 
the  captain  intended  to  appropriate  the  money. 
Making  up  my  mind  how  he  did  this,  I  directly 
accused  him  of  the  fraud,  and  described  the  manner 
in  which  the  affair  was  done.  He  su23posed  I  knew 
the  whole  matter,  although  he  could  not  imagine  how 
I  got  hold  of  it,  and  was  greatly  excited.  He  was 
astounded  when  I  told  him  that  the  money  was  in  his 
inner  vest  pocket,  and  that  if  he  did  not  take  it  out 
at  once  I  should  search  him,  and  he  must  take  the 
consequences.  I  hit  the  thing  exactly.  He  had  his 
money  hid  away  in  the  place  I  had  designated.  In 
tears  and  in  terror  he  brought  forth  the  money,  which 
was  restored  to  the  owner.  We  could  not  hold  the 
man  for  a  criminal  trial  on  the  evidence  we  had,  and 
so  let  him  run.  He  has  never  sailed  from  New  York 
since. " 

BUEGLAR  DETECTED  BY  A  BUTTOTT. 

A  large  silk  house  in  New  York  was  robbed  of 
silks  and  velvets  valued  at  many  thousand  dollars. 
The  burglars  hired  an  old  building  adjoining  the 
store.  They  cut  a  hole  through  the  wall,  entered  the 
store,  and  carried  away  the  goods.    The  job  was  a 


194 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


clean  one,  and  no  trace  of  the  robbery  was  left.  The 
police  shook  their  heads,  and  the  merchants  feared 
they  were  ruined.  One  of  the  shrewdest  detectives 
had  the  case  put  into  his  hands.  He  examined  the 
premises  carefully.  The  hole  in  the  wall  was  a  small 
one,  and  the  burglar  squeezed  himself  through  with 
difficulty.  In  a  little  crevice  a  button  Avas  found  of 
a  very  peculiar  fashion.  A  little  plaster  adhered  to  it, 
indicatino^  that  it  had  been  rubbed  off  as  the  robber 
passed  through.  The  detective  put  the  button  in  his 
pocket.  He  had  a  clue,  very  slight,  but  still  it  was  a 
clue.  There  are  certain  resorts  in  this  city  for 
thieves,  burglars,  and  rogues.  Here  they  can  be 
found  when  ofE  duty.  Detectives  pass  in  and  out 
among  these  desperate  men.  They  never  meddle 
with  them  on  ordinary  occasions.  They  are  seldom 
disturbed  by  the  desperadoes,  or  resisted  if  they  make 
an  arrest.  It  is  well  known  that  the  detectives  go 
armed  and  have  no  delicacy  in  the  use  of  weapons. 
They  are  selected  for  their  personal  bravery  no  less 
than  for  their  intelligence  and  integrity.  The  de- 
tective stood  at  the  door  of  one  of  our  low  places  of 
amusement.  A  man  passed  him  who  had  peculiar 
buttons  on  his  coat.  He  followed  him  to  his  seat, 
sat  down  beside  him,  and  seemed  intent  on  the  play. 
He  was  not  so  intent,  however,  but  that  he  saw  that 
the  party  he  was  watching  had  one  button  less  on 
his  coat  than  he  ought  to  have.  He  immediately 
left  his  seat,  Avent  outside,  and  made  arrangement 
for  aid  to  make  an  arrest.  He  came  back  to  his  seat, 
touched  the  astonished  stranger  on  the  shoulder,  and 
invited  him  outside.    Here  a  corps  of  policemen  were 


The  Detective  Force. 


195 


waiting  to  receive  him,  and  he  saw  that  resistance 
was  useless.  Knowing  that  the  man  could  not  be 
held  an  hour  with  no  proof  but  a  button,  the  detec- 
tive set  himself  to  work  to  get  the  goods.  He 
accused  the  man  of  the  robbery,  showed  him  how  it 
Avas  done,  and  hit  the  case  so  exactly  that  the  bur- 
glar believed  chat  some  of  his  confederates  had  made 
a  confession.  He  led  the  officers  to  the  spot  where 
the  goods  were  concealed.  The  party  was  tried  and 
sent  to  the  State  Prison  for  a  term  of  years.  The 
button  did  more  than  that.  The  arrest  of  this  man 
put  the  detectives  on  the  track  of  other  burglars. 
They  followed  up  the  matter  for  months,  broke  up  a 
den  of  the  most  desperate  robbers,  lodged  many  of 
them  in  prison,  among  whom  ^^^as  the  famous  Bristol 
Bill  of  England. 

A  SHADOW  ON  THE  PATH. 

Small  sums  of  money  from  time  to  time  were  taken 
from  one  of  our  city  banks.  No  clue  to  the  robbery 
could  be  found.  A  detective  was  consulted ;  he  said 
that  the  robber  was  in  the  bank.  A  watch  was  put 
on  all  employes,  but  in  vain.  The  money  continued 
to  go.  The  affair  was  put  in  the  hands  of  a  detective. 
All  unknown  to  the  clerks,  this  officer  visited  the 
bank  at  all  hours,  came  in  various  disguises  and  under 
various  pretences.  He  was  satisfied  that  the  robber 
was  in  the  bank,  and  he  fastened  on  one  of  the  clerks 
as  that  individual.  He  followed  the  clerk  fourteen 
days,  at  the  end  of  which  a  witten  statement 
of  the  whereabouts  of  the  clerk  was  presented 
to  the  bank.    It  w^as  a  perfect    curiosity.  The 


196  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 

detective  had  not  lost  siglit  of  the  Avhereabouts  of  the 
young  man  a  single  hour.  The  clerk  lived  out  of 
town.  The  detective  rode  on  the  cars  with  him  every 
day.  He  sailed  on  the  boats,  walked  in  the  country, 
rode  in  the  city.  Every  place  the  clerk  went  into 
was  written  down,  how  long  he  staid,  what  he  ate 
and  drank,  and  whom  he  talked  with.  A  descrip- 
tion was  given  of  each  person  he  talked  with,  the 
places  of  amusement  he  visited,  and  what  he  paid  out. 
Among  other  things  the  record  told,  was  his  visits  to 
gaming  and  other  houses ;  what  time  he  went  to  bed  ; 
and  twice  he  rose  at  two  in  the  morning,  left  his 
house,  and  met  certain  parties,  who  were  accurately 
described.  How  a  man  could  be  followed  fourteen 
days,  especially  in  the  country,  all  that  he  is  doing  be 
known,  everybody  he  speaks  to  described,  and  the 
man  watched  be  ignorant  of  it,  is  one  of  the  mysteries 
of  the  detective  system.  The  clerk  was  called  into 
the  president's  room  and  charged  with  the  peculations. 
He  was  overwhelmed  with  the  accuracy  with  which 
his  coming  in  and  going  out  were  noted.  He  con- 
fessed his  guilt.  The  directors  were  merciful,  and 
did  not  subject  him  to  a  criminal  prosecution. 

PEIVATE  DETECTIVES. 

The  success  of  detectives  in  criminax  matters,  as  a 
part  of  the  police,  has  created  a  private  detective 
system,  which  is  at  the  service  of  any  one  who  can 
pay  for  it.  It  is  a  spy  system — a  system  of  espionage 
that  is  not  creditable  or  safe.  Men  are  watched  and 
tracked  about  the  city  by  these  gentlemen,  and  one 


The  Detective  Force,  197 


cannot  tell  when  a  spy  is  on  his  track.  A  jealous 
wife  will  put  a  detective  on  the  track  of  her  husband, 
who  will  follow  him  for  weeks  if  paid  for  it,  and  lay 
before  her  a  complete  programme  of  his  acts  and 
expenditures.  If  a  man  wants  a  divorce,  he  hires  a 
detective  to  furnish  the  needed  evidence.  Slander 
suits  are  got  up,  conducted,  and  maintained  often  by 
this  agency.  Divorce  suits  are  carried  through  our 
courts  by  evidence  so  obtained.  Sudden  explosions 
in  domestic  life,  the  dissolution  of  households,  and 
family  separations  originate  in  this  system.  It  is  not 
very  comforting  to  know  that  such  shadows  are  on 
our  paths. 

THE    HUMANITY  OF  DETECTIVES. 

It  is  difficult  to  deceive  a  criminal  detective ;  he 
can  read  a  man  at  a  glance.  He  knows  a  bogus  story 
from  a  real  one.  He  can  tell  a  hardened  criminal 
from  a  novice.  Pilferings  were  constantly  going  on 
from  one  of  our  leading  banking  houses.  As  usual, 
a  detective  was  called  in.  He  immediately  selected 
the  criminal  in  the  person  of  a  young  clerk,  who  was 
bright  and  talented,  came  from  an  excellent  home  in 
the  country,  and  up  to  that  time  had  borne  an 
unblemished  character.  The  banker  scouted  the  idea 
that  the  young  man  was  a  criminal.  The  clerk  was 
called  in,  and  to  the  sorrow  and  astonishment  of  his 
employer,  he  confessed  the  thefts.  The  ugly  secret 
was  known  only  to  the  banker  and  the  detective. 
The  detective  interceded  for  the  young  man,  pleaded 
his  home  education  and  principles,  the  sudden  tempta- 


198  Wonders  of  a  Great  Oity. 


tions  that  surrounded  him,  his  capacity  to  make  a 
useful  man ;  while,  if  he  was  discharged,  his  crimes 
would  become  public,  his  character  be  ruined,  and  he 
become  a  criminal,  to  end  his  days  in  prison.  Im- 
pressed with  the  representation,  the  banker  decided 
to  give  the  young  man  a  trial.  He  called  him  again 
into  his  presence.  "I  will  not  dishonor  you,"  said 
the  banker ;  "I  will  not  discharge  you;  I'll  keep  you, 
and  if  you  will  let  me,  will  make  a  man  of  you." 
He  then  showed  him  how  he  carried  on  his  business: 
that  even  a  penny  could  not  be  abstracted  and  the 
cash  account  not  show  it.  The  young  man  replied, 
"Your  humanity  shall  not  be  misplaced."  The  other 
day  this  young  clerk  was  elected  cashier  of  a  bank, 
and  his  old  em23loyer  became  his  bondsman.  A 
young  man,  bright  and  talented,  placed  in  unusual 
temptation,  was  rescued  from  ruin,  saved  to  his  coun- 
try and  saved  to  himself  by  the  humanity  and  wisdom 
of  a  detective. 

THE  OTEEO  MIJEDER. 

No  case  was  ever  more  finely  worked  up  than  this. 
A  stranger  was  found  brutally  murdered  in  one  of 
the  parks  of  Brooklyn.  No  clue  to  the  murderer 
could  be  found.  The  chief  of  the  detective  depart- 
ment detailed  his  best  men  on  the  case.  A  pair  of 
gloves  were  found  near  the  place  of  the  murder,  with 
a  slash  on  the  back  of  one  of  them:  that  was  all. 
An  Italian  steamer  was  to  sail  for  Italy,  and  crowds 
of  Italians  were  on  the  wharf  taking  leave  of  their 
friends.  The  detective  sauntered  down,  for  no  par- 
ticular reason.    He  went  on  the  deck  of  the  vessel, 


IkE  Detective  Force,  199 


but  saw  nothing  particular  to  interest  him,  and  went 
again  on  the  dock.  Just  as  he  was  preparing  to 
leave,  he  saw  a  man  coming  towards  the  vessel. 
Before  the  approaching  man  had  come  near  enough 
to  the  officer  to  be  spoken  to,  the  detective  had  taken 
an  inventory  of  him.  There  was  nothing  about  him 
suspicious  but  his  hands.  He  had  on  a  pair  of  new 
gloves  quite  too  large.  The  way  in  which  he  held 
his  hands  showed  that  something  was  the  matter  with 
them.  His  face  indicated  agony.  The  fatal  gloves 
found  near  the  body  of  the  murdered  man  in  the 
park  were  in  the  pocket  of  the  detective.  He  felt 
certain  that  the  approaching  stranger  had  something 
to  do  with  the  murder.  He  w^as  at  once  arrested,  his 
gloves  removed,  his  gory  hands  laid  bare,  and  the 
cut  was  found  to  correspond  with  that  in  the  gloves. 
The  imprisonment,  trial  and  punishment  are  well 
known.  As  a  part  of  the  great  governing  power  of 
the  land,  the  detective  system  is  powerful,  effective, 
silent. 

THE  HULL  MUEDER. 

Early  one  morning  in  June,  1879,  in  a  fine  residence 
in  Forty-second  street,  near  Fifth  Avenue,  an  old 
lady  was  found  tied  hand  and  foot  in  her  bed,  where 
she  had  been  smothered  with  a  pillow.  Her  valuable 
rings  had  been  torn  from  her  fingers,  and  her  jewel 
casket  had  been  plundered.  This  murder  in  a  fash- 
ionable neighborhood,  guarded  by  private  watchmen 
as  well  as  the  police,  created  the  profoundest  sensa- 
tion New  York  had  known  for  years,  and  for  several 
days  the  best  detectives  were  completely  baffled  by 


200  WONDEES  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


the  mystery.  The  murderer,  a  negro  named  Chastine 
Cox,  formerly  a  servant  of  Mrs.  DeForest  Hull, whom 
he  killed  and  robbed, was  finally  detected  and  arrested 
in  a  negro  church  in  Boston,  was  speedily  tried  in 
New  York  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 

THE  EOGUES'  GALLEEY. 

One  of  the  most  conspicuous  features  of  the  de- 
tective department,  is  the  Rogues'  Gallery.  It  occu- 
pies a  complete  room  just  off  Inspector  Byrne's 
private  room.  Neatly  arranged  in  panels  and  cabi- 
nets is  a  collection  of  photographs,  numbering  some- 
thing like  30,000.  The  pictures  are  those  of  criminals 
of  more  or  less  notoriety.  A  few  of  the  originals 
are  dead,  but  the  great  majority  of  them  are,  in  slang 
parlance,  still  on  the  turf.  A  few  months  ago  In- 
spector Byrne  published  a  book  of  his  experience 
with  crime  and  criminals,  and  in  its  pages  the  occu- 
pants of  the  Bogues'  Gallery  received  full  justice. 
When  a  new  thief  comes  into  the  field,  if  he  is  gifted 
with  anything  like  native  tact  or  cunning,  he  wall 
work  undetected  for  a  time.  The  man  hunters  who 
are  on  his  trail,  recognize  immediately  the  fact  of 
his  being  a  novice,  from  the  bungling  manner  in 
which  his  jobs  are  performed.  Not  having  the 
pleasure  of  his  acquaintance,  they  are  all  at  sea  for  a 
brief  time.  Then  the  latest  accession  to  the  crook's 
domain  is  run  to  earth.  He  is  taken  to  the  Inspector's 
quarters  and  carefully  photographed.  If  he  does  not 
take  kindly  to  the  operation,  and  attempts  by  grim- 
aces or  facial  contortions  to  defeat  the  camera,  he  is 
labored  with  patiently,  for  hours,  if  necessary,  until 


The  Detective  Force. 


201 


caught  off  his  guard.  In  the  long  run  his  counter- 
feit presentment  is  always  obtained.  A  great  number 
of  copies  of  the  photograph  is  made  ;  below  it  is 
printed  a  concise  description  of  the  original  and  his 
branch  of  work,  and  these  are  sent  to  superintendents 
of  police  and  chiefs  of  detectives  in  all  the  j)rincipal 
cities  of  the  world.  So  useful  has  this  interchange 
of  pictures  proven  between  the  departments  of  New 
York  and  London,  that  an  English  crook  rarely  makes 
a  turn  here.  The  major  portion  of  them  to  their 
great  disgust,  are  greeted  by  one  of  Byrne's  men  at 
the  steamship  pier  when  they  land,  are  called  by 
name,  and  careful  inquiry  made  as  to  the  probable 
length  of  their  sojourn  in  tliis  country.  As  a  rule, 
if  they  are  operatives  of  any  prominence,  they  realize 
that  nothing  can  be  done  here,  and  return  by  the  next 
steamer.  The  Rogues'  Gallery  is  a  clever  adjunct  to 
the  criminal  machinery  of  modern  times. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
THE  TOMBS. 

HISTORY  OF  Gotham's  famous  prison. — how  it  looks  outside  and 

IN. — THE  MANAGEMENT. — PRISONERS  KNOWN  TO  CRIMINAL  FAME 
WHO  HAVE  BEEN  CONFINED  WITHIN  ITS  WALLS. — A  COURT  SCENE. — 
DIVINE  SERVICE. — LUDLOW  STREET  JAIL. 

FAMOUS  among  prisons  is  the  Tombs,  covering 
the  entire  block,  bounded  by  Center,  Elm,  Leon- 
ard and  Franklin  streets,  it  is  the  gloomiest  of  all 
gloomy  looking  structures  in  the  city.  Never  v^as 
building  more  appropriately  named. 

It  is  the  sink  into  w^hich  pours  the  criminal  stream 
of  the  third  greatest  city  on  the  globe.  It  has  held 
in  its  day  criminals  from  every  corner  of  the  earth, 
and  in  the  shadow  of  its  walls  have  been  strangled  to 
death  murderers  whose  crimes  are  part  of  enduring 
history.  Its  romances  are  numberless ;  its  mysteries 
are  more  fascinating  than  any  the  romancist  ever 
penned.  The  history  of  the  Tombs  is  an  immense 
rogues'  gallery  of  pen  pictures,  a  library  of  startling 
stories  whose  heroes  and  heroines  are  often  men  of 
vast  intelligence  and  women  of  a  marvelous  beauty, 
given  up  to  crime  as  thoroughly,  however,  as  the  most 


The  Tombs. 


203 


vulgar  and  most  brutal  offender  who  has  enjoyed  the 
hospitality  of  the  same  cold  walls.  It  has  in  its  time 
been  the  scene  of  birth  as  well  of  death,  of  the  bind- 
ing of  the  nuptial  noose  as  well  as  that  of  the  hang- 
man. It  has  been  the  tomb  of  hopes  and  honorable 
lives,  but  it  has  also  been  the  cradle  of  new-born  as- 
pirations and  opportunities.  However,  its  history  is 
its  best  interpreter.  The  old  freight  depot  of  the 
Harlem  Railroad  still  stands  at  its  Franklin  street  end, 
and  laden  cars  dra^vn  by  long  tandems  of  mules  clank 
in  and  out  all  day  and  night  long.  Through  Leonard 
and  Franklin  streets,  looking  east,  one  catches 
glimpses  of  Baxter  street,  festooned  with  the  side- 
walk displays  of  old  clo'  shops;  the  same  streets, 
westward,  make  brick  and  mortar  telescopes  which 
reveal  the  life  and  bustle  of  Broadway.  The  streets 
around  the  Tombs  are  foul  and  squalid  ones.  They 
swarm  with  the  children  of  the  tenements  which  line 
them  with  towering  piles  of  masonry,  and  the  pe- 
destrians who  navigate  them  are  for  the  most  part  of 
that  skulking,  evil  class  which  knows  the  interior  of 
the  prison  quite  as  well  as  it  does  its  outer  walls. 

When  the  Common  Council  determined  to  erect  a 
new  jail  in  1833,  there  was  quite  a  dispute  as  to  the 
order  of  architecture  to  be  observed  in  its  construc- 
tion. About  this  time  there  was  published  a  book 
entitled  "Stevens'  Travels. "  The  author  was  John  L. 
Stevens,  Esq.,  of  Hoboken,  who  had  recently  returned 
from  an  extended  tour  through  Asia  and  the  Holy 
Land.  The  book  was  full  of  interest,  and  contained 
many  illustrations  of  the  rare  and  curious  things  he 
had  seen.    Among  these  illustrations  was  one  of  an 


204 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


ancient  Egyptian  tomb,  accompanied  by  a  full  and 
accurate  description.  The  committee  appointed  by 
the  Common  Council  to  decide  upon  the  necessary 
plans  for  the  new  prison  were  impressed  with  the  idea 
of  erecting  a  building  Avhose  general  appearance  and 
construction  would  correspond  with  the  tomb  de- 
scribed in  Stevens'  book.  They  accordingly  made  their 
report,  recommending  the  construction  of  such  a 
building,  suggesting  as  a  most  fitting  and  appropriate 
name,  "The  Tombs."  The  report  was  adopted  and 
work  was  begun  at  once.  The  result  was  a  building 
of  really  grand  proportions,  but  it  was  situated  in  so 
low  a  spot  that  its  roof  scarcely  reached  the  level  of 
the  sidewalks  of  Broadway,  which  is  only  a  short 
block  from  the  Elm  street  wall  of  the  jail. 

Piles  had  to  be  sunk  deep  in  the  marshy  soil  to 
furnish  adequate  foundations  for  the  massive  struc- 
ture. It  was  ready  for  occupation  in  1838.  The 
Tombs  is  built  of  Maine  granite,  is  two  stories  high, 
and  occupies  the  four  sides  of  a  hollow  square,  being 
250  by  200  feet.  There  are  150  cells  in  the  male  prison, 
arranged  in  four  tiers,  and  these  often  have  to  accom- 
modate two,  and  even  three  occupants  each.  The 
female  prison  which  occupies  the  Leonard  street  end 
of  the  jail,  has  20  cells. 

The  prison  for  males  is  entirely  separate  from  that 
for  females.  Each  tier  in  the  male  prison  has  its 
special  uses.  In  a  portion  of  the  cells  on  the  lower 
floor,  or  ground  tier,  are  placed  the  convicts — that  is, 
those  under  sentence.  To  the  second  tier  are  consigned 
such  prisoners  as  are  brought  in  charged  with  serious 
offenses,  such  as  arson,  murder,  etc.   To  the  third 


The  Tombs. 


205 


tier  prisoners  brought  in  for  grand  larceny  and  bur- 
glary are  sent.  The  cells  on  the  upper  tier  are  reserved 
for  those  charged  with  minor  offenses,  such  as  petit 
larceny  and  the  like.  The  lower  tier  cells  are  the 
largest,  those  on  the  upper  tier  the  smallest.  All 
are  of  the  same  width,  but,  owing  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  corridors  are  constructed,  the  cells  on  each 
tier  are  about  two  feet  less  in  depth  than  those  im- 
mediately underneath.  The  low^er  cells  are  quite 
commodious,  but  in  the  upper  ones  there  is  no  room 
to  spare. 

The  Franklin  street  side  of  the  jail  was  formerly 
used  as  a  station  for  the  police  of  the  district.  It  has 
since  been  altered,  the  cells  and  offices  being  taken 
out  and  the  building  converted  into  one  large  hall.  In 
this  hall  are  put  the  tram23S,  vagrants  and  vagabonds, 
and  those  found  drunk  in  the  streets,  where  they  are 
kept  until  the  next  morning,  when  their  cases  are  sev- 
erally disposed  of  by  the  Commissioners^ — some  being 
sent  to  the  Penitentiary,  others  to  the  Workhouse  and 
others  to  the  Almshouse.  This  building  is  known  to 
the  attaches  and  frequenters  of  the  Tombs  as  "Bum- 
mers' Hall."  The  "Ten-Day  House,"  the  section  to 
which  drunkards  and  others  committed  to  durance  for 
that  length  of  time  are  confined,  is  also  in  this  depart- 
ment. 

The  ordinary  services  of  the  prison  are  performed 
by  the  ten-day  prisoners,  as  they  are  called.  They  do 
all  the  cleaning  and  repairing  and  most  of  the  kitchen 
work  about  the  jail.  Some  twenty-five  or  thirty  are 
thus  kept  constantly  employed.  Religious  services 
are  held  every  day  except  Saturday,  which  is  devoted 


206  Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City, 


to  scrubbing  and  general  cleaning  up.  As  regards  the 
food  furnislied  prisoners,  a  sufficiency  of  sweet,  whole- 
some bread  is  received  daily,  and  distributed  liberally. 
Plenty  of  fresh  vegetables  and  fresh  meat  are  fur- 
nished for  dinner  five  days  of  the  week,  and  the  other 
two  (Tuesdays  and  Fridays)  fresh  fish  is  suj^plied  in 
abundance.  On  special  feast  days,  such  as  Christmas, 
Thanksgiving,  etc.,  there  is  a  generous  banquet  pro- 
vided by  voluntary  contributions,  assisted  by  the 
Warden  and  the  Commissioners.  Prisoners  are  per- 
mitted to  receive  food  from  their  friends,  and  to  pur- 
chase it  from  the  outside.  Those  destitute  of  friends 
and  money  and  in  need  of  other  than  the  ordinary  fare, 
are  liberally  provided  from  the  Warden's  generous 
private  table.  The  same  rule  applies  with  clothing. 
The  relatives  of  prisoners  are  notified  to  provide  them 
with  weekly  changes  of  body  linen.  If  there  are  no 
relatives  or  they  are  poor,  the  Warden  distributes  the 
necessary  garments  on  account  of  the  city. 

There  are  six  so-called  district  prisons  in  New  York. 
All  except  the  Tombs  are  merely  reception  prisons, 
in  w^hich  prisoners  captured  in  the  district  are  taken 
upon  arrest.  After  a  preliminary  hearing  offenders 
from  these  jails  are  always  committed  to  the  Tombs 
to  await  trial.  The  result  is  that  that  prison  ahvays 
holds  a  strong  force  of  the  most  desperate  and  dan- 
gerous criminals  in  the  city.  At  one  time,  recently, 
there  were  sixteen  under  charges  of  murder  alone. 
But  there  has  been  no  escape  from  the  Tombs  since 
the  flight  of  Sharkey  a  few  years  ago. 

The  amusement  of  the  Tombs  prisoners,  if  they  can 
be  called  such,  are  provided  by  the  daily  exercise  in 


The  Tombs, 


207 


the  corridors,  and  by  the  visits  of  their  friends.  The 
exercise  consists  in  an  hour's  tramp  round  and  round 
the  tier  to  which  the  captive's  cell  belongs.  The  rest 
of  the  time  is  spent  behind  the  bars.  Still  the  fact 
that  smoking  is  allowed  and  that  there  are  plenty  of 
books  in  the  prison  renders  this  enforced  idleness 
partially  endurable.  In  addition  to  such  literature  as 
is  provided  by  the  captive's  friends,  the  Tombs  in- 
mates have  the  use  of  a  library  of  nearly  a  thousand 
excellently  selected  volumes.  This  collection  is  due 
to  the  labors  of  Miss  Linda  Gilbert. 

DISTmGUISHED  PRISOT^ERS. 

Since  its  completion  the  Tombs  has  held  its  comple- 
ment of  noted  murderers,  from  Hicks  the  pirate,  Gor- 
don the  slayer,and  Sharkey  down  to  Edward  S.  Stokes, 
who  sent  Jim  Fisk  to  his  final  account ;  but  some  of 
its  most  famous  inmates  have  been  confidence  men. 
Governor  Moses,  of  South  Carolina,  has  graced  it 
upon  a  half  dozen  occasions,  and  its  record  of  Counts, 
Dukes  and  other  titled  foreigners,  would  fill  a  vol- 
ume. A  slight  review  of  a  few  of  the  widely  known 
historic  cases,  will  not  be  out  of  place  in  this  con- 
nection. Count  Eugene  Milkiewiez,  was  one  of  the 
original  aristocratic  sharpers.  He  was  a  Russian,  a 
guest  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  and  earned  the  rep- 
utation of  giving  the  petite  sonpers  at  Delmonico's. 
At  the  hotel  there  was  quite  a  rivalry  among  the 
ladies  for  the  greatest  share  of  the  Count's  attention. 
Among  the  innumerable  fair  acquaintances  of  the 
Count  was  a  young  lady,  Avho  resided  on  Fifth 
Avenue.  He  was  very  lavish  of  his  attentions  to  her, 
and  almost  invariably  accompanied  her  on  her  drives 
and  promenades. 


208 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


On  one  occasion  lie  placed  tlie  young  lady's  ring,  a 
brilliant  of  the  first  water,  on  his  little  finger,  play- 
fully remarking  that  he  would  wear  it  for  a  few 
days.  He  had  the  gem  removed,  and  a  bogus  stone 
inserted  in  its  place.  After  some  days  had  elapsed 
the  ring  was  returned  to  its  owner,  and  the  fraud 
discovered.  A  warrant  for  the  Count's  arrest  was 
procured,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  Tombs,  where  he 
remained  for  some  time,  but  was  finally  let  out  on 
his  agreeing  to  enlist  for  the  war. 

He  was  sent,  with  other  recruits,  to  Governor's 
Island,  where  troops  were  stationed  waiting  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  front.  He  succeeded  in  ingratia- 
ting himself  in  the  favor  of  the  colonel  and  officers, 
and,  on  the  plea  of  having  some  business  with  the 
Russian  Minister  at  Washington  relative  to  his  home 
affairs,  obtained  a  furlough  for  a  few  days,  with  the 
understanding  that  he  was  to  meet  the  regiment  at 
Washington.  A  few  weeks  afterwards  he  was  heard 
of  in  Canada. 

Nothing  further  was  heard  of  the  Count  for  years, 
until  a  few  winters  ago,  a  paragraph  appeared  in 
one  of  the  daily  papers  to  the  effect  that  the  young 
Russian  Count  who  had  some  years  since  victimized 
a  young  lady  residing  on  Fifth  Avenue,  by  borrow- 
ing her  diamond  ring  and  substituting  a  paste  imi- 
tation therefor,  had  turned  up  again,  and  was 
pursuing  a  lady  of  wealth  somewhere  down  East. 
This  led  to  an  exposure  and  he  was  driven  into 
obscurity  again.  But  he  pursued  his  nefarious  way. 
He  married  the  daughter  of  a  rich  merchant  of 
Rochester,  only  to  squander  her  fortune  and  deserted 


The  Tombs. 


209 


her,  landing  in  the  Baltimore  jail,  where  he  was, 
for  a  long  time,  prevented  from  indulging  in  his 
native  rascality. 

Colonel  Marmadnke  Reeves  was  another  famous 
sharper  w^ho  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  the  Tombs. 
Like  his  Russian  rival,  he  was  cunning  enough  to 
escape  conviction  for  a  long  time.  His  fate,  how- 
ever, overtook  him  in  this  fashion :  "He  inserted  in 
one  of  the  papers  an  advertisement  for  a  governess  to 
take  the  entire  charge  of  three  children,  on  a  plan- 
tation South.  Among  the  replies  was  one  from  a 
lady  residing  in  a  large  and  fashionable  boarding 
house  opposite  St.  John's  Park.  When  evening 
came  he  called,  and  succeeded  in  effecting  an  en- 
gagement— desiring  her  to  get  ready,  if  possible,  to 
leave  with  him  on  the  following  day.  The  lady 
agreed,  and  it  was  arranged  that  an  expressman  be 
sent  for  the  trunks,  and  that  the  Colonel  should  call 
for  her  with  a  carriage.  The  expressman  arrived 
the  next  day  and  carried  all  her  valuables  off,  but 
the  carriage  failed  to  make  its  appearance,  and  she 
reported  the  case  to  the  police  authorities.  After 
a  few  weeks'  pursuit  the  Colonel  was  found  and  ar- 
rested. He  paid  for  his  sharp  practice  with  four 
years  and  a  half  service  to  the  State  at  Sing  Sing. 

Another  historic  boarder  was  "  William  Fitzcharles 
McCarty, "  who  eloped  with  General  Dan  Sickles' 
daughter.  McCarty  was  a  royal  scoundrel,  and  the 
law  never  got  a  hold  on  him  it  was  ever  able  to 
retain.  His  incarceration  in  the  Tombs  was  on  ac- 
count of  a  robbery  of  diamonds  he  was  accused 
of    complicity,   but  he   was   eventually  released. 


210 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City, 


McCarty's  weakness  was  the  fair  sex.  He  had 
one  legitimate  wife,  wliom  he  had  abandoned 
as  soon  as  he  got  rid  of  all  her  money,  and 
no  end  of  mistresses  who  believed  themselves 
his  wives.  During  the  period  when  our  Gov- 
ernment was  likely  to  get  into  difficulty  with  the 
Spanish  Government,  on  account  of  the  Cuban  in- 
surgents, McCarty  succeeded  in  selling  to  William 
M.  Evarts  letters  purporting  to  be  written  by  them. 
He  proposed  to  act  as  a  kind  of  go-between  and  save 
the  Government  any  trouble.  His  manners,  dress 
and  address  were  those  of  an  accomplished  gentle- 
man, and  Mr.  Evarts  stepped  into  the  snare.  Once 
the  money  paid  for  the  letters,  he  went  to  London. 
There  he  opened  an  office  and  ^pretended  to  be  inter- 
ested in  American  wines.  Very  soon  the  money 
failed  and  he  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  was 
arrested  for  complicity  in  the  diamond  robbery,  but 
was  acquitted  when  brought  to  trial.  After  victim- 
izing London  again  he  proceeded  to  Paris,  where 
McCarty  struck  the  upper  ranks  of  society  in  the 
American  quarter.  It  was  while  they  were  there 
that  Mrs.  McCarty, the  last,hadher  suspicion  aroused 
by  a  newspaper  item  that  McCarty  had  been  married 
previously.  Finally  she  learned  that  such  was  indeed 
the  fact,  and  a  separation  was  the  result.  McCarty 
was  scarcely  free  when  he  found  a  fresh  victim  in 
General  Sickles'  daughter.  Since  his  elopement  with 
her  he  had  refrained  from  making  himself  conspicu. 
ous  enough  to  get  into  the  papers. 

Quite  an  elaborate  fraud,  though  he  was  by  no 
means  the  equal  of  McCarty,  was  in  the  Tombs  by 


The  Tombs. 


211 


proxy.  In  October,  1879,  a  genteel  foreigner,  about 
27  years  old,  calling  liimself  Count  Maurice  De  Fez, 
took  apartments  with  a  private  family  on  Twelfth 
street.  He  lived  at  Spanish  and  French  restaurants, 
and  was  allowed  to  run  up  large  bills  there.  He 
claimed  acquaintance  wdth  leading  resident  foreign- 
ers, and  talked  of  taking  service  in  the  Cuban  army. 
In  the  meantime  he  became  very  attentive  to  a  pre- 
possessing young  lady  on  Twenty-fourth  street,  an 
orphan,  who  finally  agreed  to  marry  him  and  sail  for 
France,  where,  he  said,  they  should  settle  on  his  es- 
tate. In  view  of  the  event,  the  young  lady  sold  off 
all  of  her  furniture  and  made  preparations  for  the 
departure.  Then  the  Count  confided  that  he  was 
short  of  funds,  and  obtained  from  her  about  $300. 
The  French  Consul  was  invited  to  give  the  bride 
away,  and  many  well-known  French  and  Spanish 
residents  were  asked  to  be  present.  The  Count  or- 
dered a  wedding  breakfast,  to  cost  $350,  from  a  well- 
known  restaurateur,  into  whose  confidence  he  had 
worked  himself,  and  in  ordering,  he  succeeded  in 
borrowing  $25  on  the  strength  of  his  approaching 
marriage  with  an  heiress.  He  also  ordered  many 
valuable  presents  for  his  affianced,  but  manao-ed  to 
stave  off  payment.  Three  days  before  the  wedding 
the  Count  drove  up  to  his  lodging  house  in  a  carriage, 
packed  his  trunks  and  mysteriously  disappeared. 
When  the  fact  was  told  to  the  lady,  she  took  it 
quietly,  and  canceled  the  invitations  and  all  wedding 
arrangements.  A  detective  was  employed  to  hunt 
up  the  Count,  and  on  the  day  that  should  have  been 
that  of  the  wedding  the  officer  appeared  at  the 


212 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Tombs  with  a  prisoner.  But  it  was  not  the  Count 
De  Fez.  That  ingenious  nobleman  when  last  heard 
from  was  enjoying  himself  in  Canada. 

Since  the  time  of  the  Count  De  Fez,  the  Tombs 
has  held  a  very  illustrious  and  successful  fraud  in 
the  Right  Hon.  Aj^thur  Pelham  Clinton,  who  was 
arrested  for  confidence  "operations  in  New  York,  and 
afterwards  extradited  to  Utah,  to  answer  to  the 
forgery  of  drafts  on  England  which  the  Utah  bank 
cashed.  Clinton  was  a  very  fair  sample  of  a  style 
of  fraud  which  has  become  quite  common  in  this 
country — the  bogus  lord.  He  was  known  to  the 
I/ondon  police  as  a  pickpocket  and  thief.  When 
they  made  it  too  hot  for  him  in  England,  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic,  and  made  a  hit  in  society  as  an  English- 
man of  high  position. 

Among  the  famous  confidence  men  of  this  city 
whom  the  Tombs  has  held  are  Harry  GifEord,  other- 
wise known  as  "the  Prince,"  whose  first  term  there 
was  for  swindling  his  own  mother;  and  Hod  Bacon, 
a  most  dangerous  old  operator,  with  a  pleasant  man- 
ner and  a  plausible  address,  which  have  found  many 
victims.  Hod  Bacon  is  the  man  who  spent  a  week 
at  a  Jersey  camp-meeting  a  couple  of  years  ago, 
taking  an  apparently  deep  interest  in  all  the  proceed- 
ings, even  rising  to  exhort  the  worshipers  several 
times,  and  establishing  such  an  intimacy  with  the 
devout  Jerseymen  that  he  came  back  to  town  rich 
enough  to  live  in  retirement  for  a  year.  Unfor- 
tunately for  him,  he  had  among  his  victims  a 
muscular  old  blacksmith,  who,  on  the  occasion  of  a 
visit  to  New  York,  met  his  victimizer  face  to  face  in 


Tee  Tombs. 


213 


the  street.  A  fight  followed,  which  led  to  the  arrest 
of  both.  Bacon  was  identified,  and  a  number  of 
people  who  learned  of  his  whereabouts  by  the  report 
of  the  arrest  in  the  papers,  brought  charges  against 
him.  He  is  now  paying  the  penalty  for  them  at 
Sing  Sing. 

mSIDE  VIEW. 

The  Tombs  is  a  suggestive  place  at  an  early  hour 
on  Sunday.  Saturday  night  is  a  "gala  day"  with  the 
low  city  population.  With  money  in  the  pocket,  and 
no  work  to  do  the  next  morning,  men  crowd  the 
drinking  places,  break  the  peace,  and  are  arrested  by 
the  wholesale.  There  is  a  room  in  the  prison  known 
as  the  Bummers'  Cell.  It  will  hold  about  two  hun- 
dred. In  it  persons  arrested  on  Saturday  night  are 
confined.  Here  are  to  be  found  all  characters,  classes, 
conditions,  and  ages;  drunkards,  brawlers,  rioters, 
boys,  men,  some  well  dressed,  some  on  their  first 
spree ;  well-to-do  mechanics,  even  respectable  citizens, 
with  men  crazed  by  bad  rum,  or  yelling  with  delirium 
tremens,  making  a  Pandemonium  not  found  outside 
of  New  York.  The  court  room  juts  into  the  prison 
yard,  and  the  prisoners  are  brought  before  the  jus- 
tice through  a  rear  door,  and  are  not  carried  outside 
at  all.  The  court  opens  at  six  o'clock  on  Sunday 
morning,  and  a  large  part  of  the  prisoners  are  dis- 
charged. Many  of  them  are  arrested  without  cause; 
though  the  captain  at  the  station  house  is  satisfied  of 
that  fact,  he  can  discharge  no  one.  He  must  lock  up 
all  who  are  brought  to  him.  The  innocent  and  the 
guilty  pass  the  night  in  the  station  house,  to  be  dis- 


214 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


charged,  if  discharged  at  all,  by  the  justice  the  next 
morning. 

THE  COURT  EOOM. 

Justice  Dowling,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  was  a 
remarkable  man.  He  was  short,  very  bald,  with 
brilliant  dark  eyes,  very  prompt  and  decided.  The 
following  Avas  the  invariable  scene  in  court :  Before 
the  judge  is  brought  a  motley  crowd.  He  inquires 
into  each  case,  and  is  judge,  jury,  and  counsel.  He 
decides  at  once,  as  the  prisoners  come  before  him — 
fine,  imprisonment,  or  discharge.  He  reads  intuitively 
the  characters,  knows  when  the  parties  are  telling 
the  truth,  has  sympathy  with  the  poor  creatures  who 
are  on  trial,  leans  to  the  side  of  mercy,  stands  between 
the  prisoner  and  the  oppressor,  becomes  an  advocate 
when  the  complainant  is  disposed  to  be  crushing,  and 
with  the  advice  he  gives,  his  warnings  and  admoni- 
tions, and  even  in  his  judgments,  he  sits  more  as  a 
father  than  as  a  stern  judge.  Nearly  all  the  arrests 
are  for  drunkenness,  or  for  crimes  growing  out  of  it. 
Well-to-do  men  and  very  good  looking  women  from 
the  rural  districts,  who  come  in  to  see  the  sights,  get 
tipsy,  and  visit  Judge  Dowling  before  they  leave  the 
city.  If  parties  are  drunk,  and  not  disorderly,  they 
are  invariably  discharged.  Parties  who  are  arrested 
for  the  first  time,  or  who  are  not  known  to  the  police 
as  having  been  arrested  before,  are  discharged.  Wit, 
humanity,  and  good  nature,  with  strong  common 
sense,  unite  in  the  judge.  Persons  frequently  make 
complaints  from  revenge.  Women  come  to  complain 
of  their  husbands,  and  husbands  of  their  wives.  The 


The  Tombs. 


215 


keen,  discriminating  judge  turns  the  tables,  and  often 
sends  the  prisoners  out  of  court,  and  the  complainant 
into  the  cells.  When  the  order  is  given  to  bring  in 
the  prisoners,  it  is  a  sight  to  see.  A  hundred  or  two 
come  in  with  a  rush.  Young  women  in  the  latest 
style  of  dress,  a  little  the  worse  for  a  night  in  the 
Tombs;  old  men  tattered  and  torn,  hatless  and  with- 
out shoes,  looking  as  if  they  had  escaped  from 
Bedlam ;  battered  and  dilapidated  omen,  with  black 
or  bloody  eyes;  women  whose  faces  have  been  beaten 
to  a  jelly  by  their  husbands ;  boys  of  thirteen, 
hardened  as  if  they  had  graduated  fi^om  prison; 
young  clerks  handsomely  dressed,  with  flashing  jewel- 
ry; respectable  men,  standing  well  in  society;  burg- 
lars, thieves,  pickpockets,  black,  tawny,  and  white, 
of  every  nationality,  and  in  every  possible  condition, 
all  huddled  together,  to  answer  for  misdemeanors  or 
breaches  of  the  peace. 

THE  JUDGE  ON  THE  BENCH. 

The  roll  before  the  judge  contains  the  name  of 
every  person  arrested,  or  such  name  as  he  chooses  to 
give.  As  his  name  is  called,  each  party  stands  up 
before  the  judge.  The  officer  gives  his  testimony,  the 
prisoner  tells  his  story,  and  the  judge  decides 
whether  the  party  shall  be  discharged,  be  fined,  or 
be  remanded  to  his  cell  for  trial  at  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions. It  is  a  curiosity  to  study  the  face,  hear  the 
testimony,  and  listen  to  the  administration  of  justice. 
Two  maidens  from  the  sidewalk  are  brought  up, 
Avith  their  veils  down  and  their  faces  hid.  To  the 
stern  command  of  the  officer  in  charge  the  veil  is 


216  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

lifted,  if  not,  the  veil  comes  off,  bonnet  and  all.  The 
girls  were  fighting  at  the  corner  of  the  street,  and 
would  not  move  on.  "You  have  made  it  up,"  said 
the  judge  ;  then  shake  hands  and  go."  An  old  rum- 
soaked  woman  pleads  for  mercy.  "No;  I'll  send  you 
up.  It  will  do  you  good,  and  take  the  rum  out  of 
you. "  A  young  girl  of  sixteen  begs  to  be  allowed  to 
go  home  ;  she  only  got  a  little  tight,  she  says.  "Well, 
go,  but  don't  you  come  here  again. "  But  she  does 
not  go.  The  next  case  called  brings  her  up  on  to 
the  stand  again.  "Didn't  I  tell  you  to  go?"  said  the 
judge.  "Yes,  sir;  but  I  want  to  take  my  friend  with 
me.  She  was  no  worse  than  I  was. "  "Then  you  are 
not  content  to  go  by  yourself?"  "No  sir.  It  won't 
hurt  your  honor  to  be  kind  to  the  poor  girl. "  "Well, 
go,  and  don't  you  let  me  see  either  of  you  inside  this 
court  again."  And  away  they  go,  locked  in  each 
other's  arms,  dancing  out  of  the  door.  A  man  com- 
plains of  a  dilapidated-looking  woman  for  breaking 
every  window  in  his  house.  "What  did  you  do  to  her 
to  induce  her  to  do  that  ?"  the  judge  says.  "Nothing. 
She  wanted  to  stay  in  my  house,  and  there  was  no 
room,  and  I  turned  her  out,  and  then  she  broke  my 
windows."  "What  sort  of  a  house  do  you  keep?" 
"A  boarding-house."  "Yes,  I  know  what  sort  of  a 
boarding-house  you  keep.  You  live  on  the  blood  and 
bones  of  these  poor  creatures,  and  when  they  can't 
serve  you  any  longer,  you  kick  them  into  the  street. 
You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself,  a  great,  big, 
burly  fellow  like  you  engaged  in  such  business.  She 
broke  your  windows,  did  she?  She  ought  to  have 
broken  your  head.    If  you  are  ever  brought  before 


The  Tombs. 


217 


me,  as  you  will  be  very  soon,  I'll  send  you  to  the 
penitentiary.  Now  clear  out.  I  won't  hear  a  word 
from  you."  To  the  criminal  he  says,  ''I  shall  have  to 
commit  you  for  a  breach  of  the  peace.  But  if  you 
break  any  more  windows,  I  shall  send  you  to  the 
penitentiary."  A  man  is  arrested  for  beating  his 
wife.  Her  face  is  pummeled  to  a  jelly.  When  asked 
for  her  testimony,  she  says,  with  trembling,  "  I  don't 
want  to  harm  him."  "Can  you  support  yourself?" 
the  judge  asks.  "O,  yes,  your  honor.  I  have  to  sup- 
port myself,  and  him  too."  'Then  I'll  send  him 
where  he  won't  beat  you  any  more,  for  six  months  at 
least."  A  woman  brings  a  charge  against  her  hus- 
band for  beating  her.  The  husband  admits  the  chas- 
tisement ;  but  he  has  four  small  children,  his  wife  gets 
drunk  every  day,  and  pawns  the  bread  oif  the  table 
for  rum.  ^'Well,"  the  judge  says,  it  is  a  hard  case 
but  you  musn't  strike  your  wife.  If  she  gets  drunk 
again  come  to  me.  I'll  send  her  where  she  can't  pawn 
your  bread." 

And  so  the  trials  go  on.  Full  two  thirds  are  dis- 
charged. With  many  it  is  the  first  offense.  With 
others  a  night  in  the  prison  is  punishment  enough. 
Many  belong  in  the  navy  ;  they  are  sent  to  their  ships. 
Many  live  in  Jersey,  Hoboken,  Brooklyn,  Harlem, 
Mott  Haven.  They  promise  to  leave  the  city  and 
never  come  back,  and  are  generally  escorted  over  the 
river.  I  doubt  if  anywhere  else  justice  is  meted  out 
in  such  generous  measure  as  in  the  Tombs.  Hardened 
villains,  and  real  scamps  and  rogues,  have  little 
chance ;  but  the  poor  creatures  who  have  no  one  to 
care  for  them  have  a  friend  in  the  judge.    Often  a 


218 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


gleam  of  smisliine  lighfcs  up  the  dreary  room,  and  the 
laugh  goes  round.  He  sends  a  prisoner  out  to  find 
the  witness  who  fails  to  come  and  testify  against 
him.  Somebody's  kitchen  misses  a  cook  on  Sunday 
morning.  She  appears  before  the  judge,  well  dressed, 
but  very  much  ashamed.  ^'Do  you  suppose  "you  can 
find  your  way  home?"  the  judge  says  to  her.  "Well, 
go,  but  don't  do  that  again."  To  another,  ''Go,  but  if 
you  come  here  again  I'll  send  you  to  the  pen- 
itentiary." So  with  caution,  entreaty,  expostulation, 
and  judgment,  justice  is  administered  at  the  Tombs. 

DIVINE  SEEVICE. 

The  Sisters  of  Charity  have  the  women  and  boys 
under  their  charge.  They  have  a  fine  chapel  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  Tombs  all  to  themselves ;  no  one  is 
allowed  to  disturb  them,  and  visitors  are  excluded. 
The  Protestant  worship  is  without  chapel  or  room 
for  service.  The  preacher  stands  on  the  platform  of 
the  corridor,  and  the  bummers  are  brought  from  their 
cell  and  placed  in  the  lower  part  of  the  long  hall- 
way. Some  sit  on  the  few  benches  that  are  provided, 
some  sit  on  the  stone  floor,  many  stand.  The  prisoners 
in  their  cells  cannot  be  seen  by  the  preacher.  They 
can  hear  or  not  as  they  please.  Company  is  allowed 
in  the  cells  during  service.  The  hum  of  conversation 
goes  on;  the  prisoners  read,  smoke,  or  write;  walk, 
sit,  or  go  to  bed.  Besides  the  iron  grated  door  which 
the  keepers  lock,  there  is  an  inside,  closely  fitting 
wooden  door,  which  the  prisoners  can  sliut  if  they 
please,  and  which  tliey  often  do.  If  the  preacher 
says  anything  they  do  not  like,  they  throw  it  to,  with 


The  Tombs, 


219 


a  slam.  A  little  shelf,  screwed  on  to  the  iron  railing 
of  the  platform,  makes  the  pulpit.  There  is  no 
music,  no  singing,  nothing  attractive.  The  service  is 
constantly  interrupted  by  the  business  of  the  court. 
Prisoners  are  called  for,  their  names  shouted  out,  and 
they  are  brought  down  from  one  tier  of  cells  to  an- 
other, for  trial  or  discharge.  The  buzz  of  talk  is 
heard,  the  yawning  of  the  weary,  the  prisoners  mock- 
ing or  imitating  the  preacher,  and  blending  with  all 
this  is  the  yell  of  the  maniac  and  the  howl  of  the 
victim  of  delirium  tremens.  The  contrast  between 
the  Catholic  service  in  prison  and  the  Protestant  is 
very  marked.  The  Catholic  worship  is  made  attractive 
and  enjoyable.  Pleasing  Sisters  of  Charity  take 
charge  of  the  services,  and  able  priests  minister  at 
the  altar.  The  Protestant  worship  is  as  bare,  tedious, 
and  unattractive  as  can  be  imagined.  There  is  little 
in  it  that  is  tender,  affectionate,  or  winning.  It  can 
be,  and  ought  to  be,  at  once  improved. 

LUDLOW  STREET  JAIL. 

Another  noted  place  of  confinement,  although  re- 
cently shorn  of  a  fragment  of  its  terrors,  is  Ludlow 
Street  JaiL  It  is  located  on  Ludlow  street,  adjoining 
Essex  Market.  All  persons  arrested  upon  process, 
authorized  by  the  Sheriff  of  New  York  County,  are 
placed  in  Ludlow.  Ferdinand  Ward  and  James  D. 
Fish  rested  here  for  many  months  before  going  to  the 
penitentiary,  and  the  "boodle  aldermen"  also  occupied 
its  choicest  cells.  Persons  placed  in  LudloA\^,  who 
are  unable  to  pay  for  extras,  may  live  like  prisoners. 
For  twenty-five  dollars  a  week  they  can  obtain  a 


220 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


comfortable  room,  the  bars  of  which  are  concealed 
by  paper,  and  the  stone  tiling  by  carpets,  and  food 
better  than  that  served  to  ordinary  prisoners.  While 
the  Constitution  of  the  Empire  State  forbids  an 
arrest  for  debt,  the  majority  of  prisoners  confined  in 
Ludlow,  come  under  the  debt  clause.  A  creditor  who 
fears  that  his  debtor  is  about  to  leave  the  State,  can 
procure  his  arrest  by  the  sheriff.  A  couple  of  years 
ago,  the  Assembly  limited  the  periods  of  confinement 
under  such  arrests,  so  that  it  is  now  impossible  to 
detain  a  creditor  longer  than  a  few  months.  Form- 
erly, creditors  could  obtain  the  arrest  of  unfortunate 
debtors,  and  they  would  be  obliged  to  remain  im- 
prisoned until  the  judgments  were  satisfied,  even 
though  it  be  years.  Prisoners  have  always  been 
systematically  robbed  by  the  deputy  sheriff's,  who 
hunt  up  bondsmen,  friends,  etc.,  and  charge  for  their 
services  at  a  rate  which  would  give  a  Shylock  heart 
disease. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
THE  FIVE  POINTS. 


A  SCENE  AT  FIVE  POINTS — LADIES'  FIVE  POINTS  MISSION — ORIGIN  OF 
THE  WORK — THE  FIELD  SELECTED  —  THE  NATIONALITY  OF  THE 
LOWLY — THE  MISSION  BEGUN — A  WALK  AROUND  FIVE  POINTS — THE 
MISSION  OF  THE  BEAUTIFUL — HOW  THE  WORK  IS  SUPPORTED — SUC- 
CESS OF  THE  MISSION  WORK. 

AS  the  superintendent  of  our  mission  establish, 
ment  was  looking  out  of  his  door,  he  saw  a 
man  running  up  the  street,  apparently  in  a  state  of 
wild  excitement.  His  coat  was  off,  he  had  no  hat 
on,  and  his  feet  were  bare.  The  superintendent 
approached  him,  and  led  him  into  his  room.  He  soon 
sank  into  unconscious  slumber.  He  remained  in  this 
condition  an  hour.  The  prayer-bell  sounded,  and  he 
started  in  alarm,  and  cried  out,  "What's  that?"  He 
was  told  it  was  the  prayer-bell.  "  Prayer-bell ! "  ex- 
claimed the  man.  "Prayer-bell!  Do  you  have  pray- 
ers in  this  dreadful  locality?"  "  We  have  prayers," 
said  the  superintendent,  and  invited  the  man  to  go 
in.  He  went  in,  and  his  sobs  and  cries  so  inter- 
rupted the  service,  that  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  the  parties  proceeded.  He  soon  learned  where 
he  was  :  he  then  made  a  clean  breast  of  himself. 


222 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


He  was  a  Western  merchant ;  he  had  a  load  of  butter 
on  the  way  to  Boston ;  he  was  a  man  of  good  standing 
at  home  ;  a  class  leader  in  the  Methodist  church.  Hav- 
ing leisure,  he  took  a  stroll  around  New  York  to  see 
the  sights.  A  respectably-dressed  and  good-looking 
woman  asked  him  to  treat  her.  As  he  wanted  to  get 
material  for  a  letter  that  he  was  to  send  home,  he 
thought  that  a  compliance  with  her  request  would 
enable  him  to  see  a  side  of  life  that  he  could  not  other- 
wise see,  so  he  went  in  to  treat.  Having  drank,  she 
insisted  upon  treating  him.  A  teetotaler  at  home,  he 
complied  with  her  invitation,  and  drank.  From  that 
time  till  he  was  awakened  by  the  prayer-bell  he  had 
no  distinct  consciousness.  He  had  an  indistinct  recol- 
lection of  being  led  down  some  dark,  damp  steps.  He 
had  over  one  thousand  dollars  in  money  with  him,  and 
he  recollected  taking  that  out.  Money,  watch,  hat, 
coat,  —  all  were  gone.  "  Can't  I  get  my  money  and 
my  coat  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Yes,"  said  the  superintendent, 
"  I  can  get  them  for  you,  but  you  must  go  before  a 
magistrate.  Your  name,  place  of  business,  and  all  about 
you,  must  come  out  and  be  blazed  in  the  papers." 
"  Then  let  it  all  go,"  he  said ;  "  I  had  rather  lose  my 
money  than  my  good  name."  Money  was  furnished 
him  ;  coat,  hat,  and  shoes  were  supplied,  all  of  which 
he  promptly  paid  fgr  when  his  butter  reached  Boston. 
His  search  for  things  to  put  into  a  letter  was  so  amply 
rewarded,  that  he  will  not  probably  try  it  again.  New 
York  is  said  to  be  a  very  wicked  place,  full  of  traps  and 
gins,  pitfalls  and  snares  ;  but  gentlemen  from  the 
country  are  the  persons  who  generally  fall  into  them. 


The  Five  Points. 


223 


ladies'  five  points  mission.  ORIGIN  OF  THE  WORK. 

Thirty  years  ago  a  few  ladies  assembled  in  a 
brown-stone  mansion  up  town,  to  consult  on  the  best 
methods  of  reaching  the  destitution  of  the  city,  and 
dohig  missionary  work.  One  of  them  suggested  that 
it  would  be  better  to  go  where  the  poor  and  neglected 
children  really  were,  and  proposed  to  open  a  mission 
at  Five  Points.  It  was  then  a  dangerous  locality,  full  of 
bad  men  and  bad  women,  the  resort  of  burglars,  thieves, 
and  desperadoes,  with  dark,  under-ground  chambers, 
where  murderer*  of+en  hid,  where  the  policeman  seldom 
went,  and  never  unarmed.  A  person  passing  through 
that  locality  after  dark  was  sure  to  be  assaulted,  beaten, 
and  probably  robbed.  The  noise  of  brawls  nightly 
filled  the  air  ;  shouts  for  police  and  cries  of  murder 
brought  the  inmates  from  their  beds.  The  proposition 
that  a  lady  should  go  into  such  a  locality  to  do  mission 
work  was  received  with  astonishment. 

THE  FIELD  SELECTED. 

Persons  who  perambulate  Broadway,  on  a  pleasant 
day,  who  look  on  the  elegantly-dressed  throng  that  crowd 
the  pavement,  and  through  the  costly  plate-glass  at  the 
rich  goods  displayed,  would  be  slow  to  believe  that  within 
a  stone's  throw  squalid  want  and  criminal  woe  have  their 
abode.  Here  lie  the  Fourth  and  Sixth  "Wards,  so  famous 
in  the  history  of  crime  in  New  York.  In  this  locality  one 
walks  amid  drunkenness,  wretchedness,  and  suffering, 
within  sound  of  the  rumble  of  Broadway,  within  sight  of 
the  merry,  gay,  and  well-dressed  thousands  who  move 
up  and  down  this  thoroughfare  of  the  city.    No  pen 


224  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

can  describe  the  homes  of  the  lowlj  where  the  New 
York  poor  lodge.  It  is  a  region  of  wickedness,  filth, 
and  woe.  Lodging-houses  are  under  ground,  foul  and 
slimy,  without  ventilation,  and  often  without  windows, 
and  overrun  with  rats  and  every  species  of  vermin. 
Bunks  filled  with  decayed  rags,  or  canvas  bags  filled 
with  rotteti  straw,  make  the  beds.  All  lodgers  pay  as 
they  enter  these  dark  domains.  The  fee  is  from  five 
to  ten  cents,  and  all  are  welcome.  Black  and  white, 
young  and  old,  men  and  women,  drunk  and  sober, 
occupy  the  room  and  fill  the  bunks.  If  there  are  no 
beds,  lodgers  throw  themselves  on  the  hard,  dirty  floor, 
and  sleep  till  morning.  Lodging-rooms  above  ground 
are  numerous  in  the  narrow  lanes,  and  in  the  dark  and 
dangerous  alleys  that  surround  the  Five  Points.  Rooms 
are  rented  from  two  to  ten  dollars  a  month,  into  which 
no  human  being  would  put  a  dog,  —  attics,  dark  as  mid- 
night at  noonday,  without  window  or  door  they  can 
shut,  without  chimney  or  stove,  and  crowded  with 
men,  women,  and  little  children.  Children  are  born  in 
sorrow,  and  raised  in  reeking  vice  and  bestiality,  that 
no  heathen  degradation  can  exceed. 

THE  NATIONALITY  OF  THE  LOWLY. 

Every  state  in  the  Union,  and  every  nation  almost  in 
the  world,  have  representatives  in  this  foul  and  danger- 
ous locality.  Its  tenant  and  cellar  population  exceed 
half  a  million.  One  block  contains  382  families.  Per- 
sons composing  thesv.  families  were,  812  Irish,  218  Ger 
mans,  186  Italians,  189  Poles,  12  French,  9  English,  ' 
Portuguese,  2  Welsh,  39  Negroes,  10  Americans.  Oi' 
religious  faiths  118  represented  the  Protestant,  28/ 
were  Jews.  160  Catholics:  but  of  614  children,  only  1 


2'HE  Five  Foints. 


225 


in  66  attended  any  school.  Out  of  916  adults,  605 
could  neither  read  nor  write.  In  the  same  block  there 
were  33  undergound  lodging-houses,  ten  feet  below  the 
sidewalk,  and  20  of  the  vilest  grog-shops  in  the  city. 
During  five  hours  on  the  Sabbath,  two  of  these  grog- 
shops were  visited  by  1054  persons,  —  450  men  and 
445  women,  91  boys  and  68  girls. 

THE  MISSION  BEGUN. 

Resolved  to  attempt  mission  work  in  this  danger- 
ous and  neglected  locality,  the  heroic  women  who 
founded  the  Five  Points  Mission  secured  a  room  op- 
posite the  Old  Brewery.  This  famous  building  stood 
in  the  centre  of  the  Five  Points.  It  was  filled  with 
a  vile  and  degraded  population.  Over  a  thousand 
persons  were  tenants  in  the  building.  The  mission- 
school  opened  with  a  group  of  rude,  untamed  chil- 
dren. They  were  lawless  as  wild  Arabs.  The  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Church  assigned  Rev.  L.  M. 
Pease  to  this  station,  and  here  he  commenced  the  great 
work  with  which  his  Home  has  been  so  long  and  so 
favorably  connected.  The  ladies  purchased  the  Old 
Brewery,  had  it  pulled  down,  and  on  its  site  erected 
the  elegant  Mission  House,  which  has  been  such  a 
blessing  to  the  lowly.  Besides  the  school-rooms,  and 
chapel  for  day  and  Sunday  service,  the  building  con- 
tains tenements  for  sober,  industrious  poor  w^ho  are 
well  behaved,  and  here  they  find,  at  a  low  rent, 
comfort. 

About  thirty  years  the  lady  founders  of  this  insti- 
tution have  carried  on  their  great  and  good  work. 
They  still  conduct  the  w^ork.  From  this  institution 
the  first  comnanv  of  sorrowing!:  and  neglected  chil- 


>26 


WoNDEns  OF  A  Great  City. 


hen  were  taken  to  comfortable  Christian  homes  in 
Ihe  West.  The  kindred  institutions  of  Five  Points 
House  of  Industry,  and  others,  were  founded  by  men 
who  were  once  in  the  employ,  and  received  their 
lessons  from,  the  Old  Brewery  Mission.  The  whole 
locality  has  been  changed.  Nearly  thirty  years  of 
work,  designed  to  rescue  little  suffering  childhood,  and 
to  do  good  to  the  perishing,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
has  produced  ripe,  rich  fruit.  The  Old  Brewery  has 
fallen,  and  a  costly  mansion,  the  gift  of  Christian 
munificence,  occupies  its  site.  The  House  of  Industry 
stands  opposite.  Cow  Bay  and  Murderer's  Alley,  with 
rookeries  and  abodes  of  desperate  people,  have  passed 
away.  Comfortable  tenements  occupy  their  place. 
The  hum  of  busy  toil  and  industry  takes  the  place  of 
reeking  blasphemy.  Trade,  with  its  marble,  granite, 
and  brown-stone  palaces,  is  pushing  its  way  into  this 
vile  locality,  and  is  completing  the  reform  which  reli- 
gion and  beneficence  began.  On  a  festive  day,  such  as 
Thanksgiving  and  Christmas,  the  ladies  welcome  their 
friends  to  a  sight  worth  travelling  many  miles  to  see. 
From  six  hundred  to  a  thousand  children,  homeless, 
houseless,  and  orphaned,  each  with  a  new  suit  or  dress 
made  by  the  lady  managers  and  their  friends,  singing 
charmingly,  exhibiting  great  proficiency  in  education, 
and  a  wonderful  knowledge  of  the  Bible,  sitting  down 
to  a  well-laid  table,  it  is  touching  to  see.  Hotels,  mar- 
ketmen,  bakers,  confectioners,  and  friends  generally, 
make  liberal  contribution  to  feed  the  little  ones. 
Loaves  large  enough  for  a  fancy  scull  on  the  Hudson, 
pyramids  of  candies,  and  cakes  and  good  things  by  the 
hundred  weight,  dolls,  toys,  and  presents,  are  abundant 
so  that  eauh  lit^3e  one  bears  some  gift  away. 


The  Five  Points. 


227 


A  WALK  AROUND  FIVE  POINTS. 

A  walk  through  the  streets  in  the  neighborhood  of 
this  Mission  will  show  where  the  materials  come  from 
of  which  it  is  composed.  Forty  thousand  vagrant 
and  destitute  children  are  in  this  field.  Their  parents 
are  foreigners.  They  are  too  dirty,  too  ragged,  and 
carry  too  much  vermin  about  them,  to  be  admitted  to 
the  public  schools.  Their  homes  are  in  the  dens  and 
stews  of  the  city,  where  the  thieves,  vagabonds,  gam- 
blers and  murderers  dwell.  With  the  early  light  of 
morning  they  are  driven  from  their  vile  homes  to  pick 
rags  and  cinders,  collect  bones,  and  steal.  They  fill  the 
galleries  of  the  low  theatres.  They  are  familiar  with 
every  form  of  wickedness  and  crime.  As  they  grow^ 
up  they  swell  the  ranks  of  the  dangerous  classes.  Our 
thieves,  burglars,  robbers,  rioters,  who  are  the  most 
notorious,  are  young  persons  of  foreign  parentage,  be- 
tween ten  and  seventeen  years  of  age.  The  degraded 
women  who  tramp  the  streets  in  the  viler  parts  of 
the  city,  who  fill  the  low  dance  houses,  and  wait  and 
tend  in  low  drinking-saloons,  graduate  in  this  vile 
locality.  Over  a  thousand  young  girls,  between  the 
ages  of  twelve  and  eighteen,  can  be  found  in  the  ^yater 
Street  drinking-saloons.  To  this  same  character  and 
doom  these  forty  thousand  children  are  hastening. 
All  around  this  Mission,  children  can  be  seen  who 
come  up  daily  from  the  brothels  and  dens  of  infamy 
which  they  call  their  homes,  wdiere  women  and  men, 
black  and  white,  herd  together,  and  where  childhood  is 
trained  up,  by  daily  beatings  and  scanty  fare,  to  cruelty 
and  blasphemy.    To  rescue  them,  this  Mission  Home 


228  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

was  founded.  They  are  made  clean,  are  clad  com- 
fortably, and  learn  to  sing  the  sweet  songs  about  the 
Savior  and  the  better  land.  Nearly  twenty  thousand, 
since  the  Mission  was  founded,  have  been  rescued  from 
these  hot-beds  of  wickedness,  and  placed  in  good  homes 
here  and  at  the  West.  Many,  through  the  kindness  of 
friends,  have  been  sent  to  seminaries,  from  which  they 
have  graduated  with  honor.  Not  a  few  are  first-class 
mechanics.  Some  of  these  hopeless  classes,  as  the 
world  regards  them,  rescued  by  the  Mission,  are  clerks 
and  cashiers  in  banks,  insurance  offices,  and  places  of 
trust.  Little  girls  picked  up  from  the  streets,  found  in 
the  gutter,  taken  from  dens  of  infamy,  brought  to  the 
Mission  by  drunken  women,  —  many  of  whom  never 
knew  father  or  mother,  —  are  now  the  adopted  daugh- 
ters of  wealthy  citizens,  the  wives  of  first-class  mechan- 
ics, of  lawyers,  and  princely  merchants.  They  owe 
their  deliverance  from  disgrace  and  shame  to  the  out- 
stretched arms  of  these  Missions. 

THE  MISSION  OF  THE  BEAUTIFUL. 

The  work  of  rescuing  the  fallen  and  the  lost  is  no 
longer  an  experiment.  The  rooms  in  which  the  chil- 
dren are  gathered  are  quite  elegant.  The  decorations 
are  the  gifts  of  friends.  If  Mary  breaks  the  alabaster 
box  of  precious  ointment  on  the  Savior's  feet,  what 
right  has  Judas  to  find  fault?  It  costs  him  nothing. 
She  will  be  quite  as  ready  to  aid  the  poor  as  if  she  had 
not  given  this  costly  expression  of  her  love.  Without 
pleasant  rooms,  music,  song,  and  marks  of  taste,  the 
lower  classes  cannot  be  reached.  Few  are  fitted  to  labor 
in  such  mission  work.    Patience,  a  loving  heart,  and 


The  Five  Points. 


229 


warm  sympathy  for  the  distressed,  are  essential.  A 
teacher  neglectful  of  her  dress,  untidy  in  appearance, 
harsh  in  voice,  and  repulsive  in  manner,  can  do  little 
good  in  this  field.  The  children  who  compose  the 
Mission  come  from  homes  of  wretchedness  and  sufferino:. 
They  know  want,  they  know  brutality,  they  are  famil- 
iar with  cruelty.  They  enter  a  new  world  when  they 
enter  the  Mission.  Kind  voices  welcome  them ;  tender 
hands  remove  the  rags  and  put  on  comfortable  clothes ; 
they  are  led  to  the  table,  where  they  take  the  only 
meal  they  ever  took  without  stint  and  without  terror. 
A  beautiful  lady  receives  them  at  the  school-room  door. 
The  dress  and  kind  tone  make  the  little  wanderer  think 
she  is  an  angel.  The  child  never  tires  looking  at  her 
teacher,  her  ornaments,  her  pleasant  face,  and  wonder- 
ing if  she  will  ever  be  cross,  if  she  will  ever  strike  her, 
or  turn  her  out  of  doors.  The  piano  is  sounded,  and 
the  child  is  startled  as  the  full  tide  of  song  rolls  through 
the  room.  She  has  taken  her  first  upward  step  in  life. 
Could  you  hear  that  swelling  chorus,  so  full,  so  accurate, 
so  joyous,  and  your  eyes  were  shut,  you  would  imagine 
that  you  were  in  a  cathedral,  hearing  a  choir  trained  by 
a  master's  hand,  rather  than  a  few  hundreds  of  vagrant 
children  taken  from  the  purlieus  of  New  York. 

To-morrow  this  little  rescued  one  will  sing  her  first 
Hong  to  the  Savior.  She  will  try  to  be  like  her  teacher, 
and  will  make  an  effort  at  cleanliness.  Then  she  will 
fix  her  hair  with  her  fingers,  get  bits  of  faded  ribbon 
or  colored  tissue  paper  for  a  rosette,  fastened  in  its 
place  by  a  pin  ornamented  with  a  glass  bead.  Lord 
Shaftesbury  helped  the  working-men  of  England  to  rise 
by  encouraging  a  love  for  flowers,  making  what  were 


230  WONDEBS  OF  A  GliEAT  CiTY, 


called  window-gardens,  and  growing  brilliant  flowers 
in  the  windows  of  the  London  poor.  The  labors  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century  have  proved  that  next  to  food  and 
clothing  the  Mission  of  the  Beautiful  is  the  most  reform- 
ing of  all  the  agencies  now  employed  in  London.  The 
lady  who  founded  Five  Points  Mission  carried  out  the 
same  idea.  She  opened  her  school  in  this  degraded 
locality  with  the  same  dress  and  ornaments  that  she 
wore  at  church  or  when  she  called  upon  a  friend.  She 
was  received  as  a  visitant  from  another  sphere.  Her 
influence  was  at  once  established,  and  for  seventeen 
years  it  has  remained  undiminished.  The  miserable 
homes  she  visited  to  bless  knew  that  she  could  not 
seek  the  society  of  Five  Points  for  her  own  pleasure. 
Degraded  women  heard  with  wonder  the  story  of  the 
Cross  from  her  lips.  They  believed  her  when  she  said 
she  came  to  them  for  His  sake  who  left  heaven  to  die 
for  men,  and  when  on  earth  had  not  where  to  lay 
His  head. 

HOW  THE  WORK  IS  SUPPORTED. 

Over  half  a  million  of  property  has  been  consecrated 
to  this  great  work  among  the  neglected,  the  abandoned, 
and  the  lowly.  The  whole  of  it  has  been  a  voluntary 
offerino;  to  Christ  from  the  benevolent.  This  Mission 
has  no  funds,  but  relies  upon  the  voluntary  donations 
of  food,  clothing,  and  money  which  are  sent  in  from 
every  portion  of  the  land.  The  institution  is  constant- 
ly increavsing  in  efficiency,  and  enlarging  its  work.  Yet 
the  donations  keep  pace  with  its  extent.  The  doors 
are  open  to  all  comers,  day  and  night.  Railroads  and 
expressmen  bring  donations  free  of  charge.  The  benef- 
icence of  our  land,  in  the  city  and  in  the  country,  has 


The  Five  Points. 


231 


a  fitting  memorial  in  this  dark  and  terrible  locality  of 
the  metropolis. 

SUCCESS  OF  THE  MISSION  WORK. 

The  leading  soprano  of  one  of  our  largest  and  most 
popular  churches,  who  was  recently  married  to  the  son 
of  a  wealthy  merchant  in  New  York,  was  brought  to 
the  door  of  one  of  the  Five  Points  Mission  Houses  by 
a  drunken  woman,  who  left  her  young  charge  and 
departed.  The  little  stranger  was  taken  in.  She  has 
never  known  father  nor  mother :  the  child  of  neglect 
and  suffering  she  evidently  was.  Scantily  clothed  with 
ragged  garments,  hungry  and  sorrowful,  she  found  in 
the  Mission  the  first  sympathy  she  had  ever  known. 
She  proved  to  be  a  bright  and  cheerful  child,  and  apt 
to  learn.  She  developed  early  a  taste  for  music.  Kind 
friends  furnished  means  to  cultivate  her  talent.  She 
has  never  despised  her  adopted  home,  or  been  ashamed 
of  the  friends  who  rescued  her.  Had  she  been  born  in 
Fifth  Avenue,  among  the  upper  ten,  her  prospects  in 
life  could  hardly  have  been  fairer. 

A  REMARKABLE  MEETING. 

On  Thanksgiving  Day,  four  young  men  and  their 
wives  met  together  for  a  social  dinner.  One  of  them 
was  cashier  of  a  leading  New  York  bank,  one  of  them 
was  book-keeper  of  a  large  insurance  ofiice,  another 
was  confidential  clerk  in  a  leading  mercantile  house, 
the  fourth  -was  a  rising  lawyer.  The  wives  of  all 
were  intelligent  and  accomplished,  and  moved  in  good 
society.  The  dinner  was  given  at  the  house  of  one  of 
the  party.    It  was  a  genteel  residence,  handsomely 


232 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


furnished.  The  hand  of  taste  and  hberaUty  adorned 
the  dwelHng  and  presided  over  the  table.  Those  four 
young  women  were  taken  out  of  the  slums  of  New 
York,  when  they  w^ere  little  children,  by  Christian  wo- 
men. They  were  removed  from  the  reeking  atmos- 
phere of  vice  and  blasphemy,  and  brought  under  the 
genial  influences  of  religion.  They  were  turned  from 
the  black  pathway  that  thousands  tread  to  the  narrow 
way  of  intelligence  and  purity.  The  young  men  were 
born  in  the  dark  chambers  of  lower  New  York,  w^here 
the  depraved  herd  by  hundreds.  They  started  life 
with  a  training  that  would  have  fitted  them  to  swell 
the  crowded  ranks  of  the  desperate  classes,  under 
which  they  w^ould  perhaps  have  ended  their  days  in 
the  prison  or  on  the  gallow^s.  But  a  kind  Providence 
brought  them  within  the  reach  of  these  Mission  Homes, 
and  they  were  saved  —  saved  to  themselves,  saved  to 
society,  saved  to  their  Savior;  for  all  of  them  are 
devout  members  of  the  church  of  God,  and  earnest 
laborers  in  the  mission  work  of  the  city. 

ANOTHER  GOOD  WORK. 

Close  by  the  Mission  is  the  large  and  commodious 
Newsboys'  Lodging  House,  where  these  little  street 
Arabs  have  good  beds,  baths,  school-rooms,  and  a  large 
hall  for  lectures  and  entertainments.  Here  they  live 
cheaply  and  cleanly,  and  are  encouraged  to  save  money. 
Good  places  are  also  found  for  many  of  them  at  the 
West  and  elsewhere. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE  BOWERY. 

THE  FLASHIEST  OP  ALL  THE  FLASH  STREETS  IN  THE  METROPOLIS. — ITS 
APPEARANCE  ON  SUNDAY. — THE  PERSONS  WHO  INHABIT  IT. — LAGER 
BEER  GARDENS. — A  WALK  UP  THE  AVENUE. 

THE  Bowery  is  the  flasMest  of  all  flash  streets  in 
the  metropolis.    It  is  celebrated  from  pole  to 
pole  and  is  equally  as  widely  known  abroad  as  Wall 
street  and  Broadway.    The  BoAvery  never  was  an 
aristocratic  street ;  it  never  aspired  to  be  anything, 
and  its  expectations  were  well  verified.    It  used  to 
be  an  old  country  road  and  persons  who  settled  along 
it  built  their  houses  near  the  road's  line,  and  in  the 
course  of  time  a  street  was  formed.    The  Bowery 
starts  at  Chatham  Square,  breaking  out  fi*om  a  net- 
work of  small  streets  like  Chatham,  Pell,  Division, 
Mulberry,  Baxter,  New  Bowery,  Mott  and  East  Broad- 
way, the  Bowery  runs  in  a  crooked,  northerly  fashion. 
It  widens  a  trifle   at  Canal  street  but  at  Grand  it 
branches  out  and  becomes  the  broadest  thoroughfare  in 
the  city.    It  does  not  narrow  again  and  finally  loses 
itself  at  Sixth  street,  where  part  of  it  forms  Fourth 
avenue,  and  the  remainder  goes  to  Harlem  with  Third 
avenue.    The  Bowery  is  about  a  mile  long.  Its  stores 
and  warehouses  are  mainly  of  the  shoddy  sort.  Tiici  e 


234 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


are  a  couple  of  banks,  one  theatre  and  a  wholesale 
house  or  two  of  some  respectability  and  pretensions, 
but  that  is  all.  It  is  gridironed  by  elevated  roads 
overhead  and  surface  lines  block  the  street  below,  and 
is  no  place  for  aristocratic  trade.  The  great  mass 
of  tradespeople  are  foreigners.  The  children  of  Is- 
rael are  numerous  and  have  here  their  headquarters 
for  cheap  jewelry,  furniture  and  clothing.  Saloons, 
"free  and  easies,"  dance  halls,  prize  fighters'  rooms, 
"opium  joints"  and  shooting  galleries  abound,  while 
pawnbrokers  and  policy  knaves  flourish.  It  is  also 
the  great  rendezvous  for  cheap  miliners  and  small 
traders. 

THE  BOWEEY  OlS  SUKDAY. 

To  be  seen  in  its  glory,  the  Bowery  must  be  visited 
on  Sunday  morning  and  night.  Broadway  is  quiet, 
the  lower  part  of  the  city  still,  but  the  Bowery  is 
alive  with  excitement.  The  clothing  establishments 
of  the  Hebrews  are  opened  for  trade.  Many  of  the 
race  are  apothecaries,  jewellers,  and  keepers  of  drink- 
ing saloons.  These  men  have  no  conscience  in  re- 
gard to  the  Christian  Sabbath.  Early  they  are  at 
their  places  of  business.  Their  stands  on  the  side- 
walk are  crowded,  and,  as  their  custom  is,  they  solicit 
trade  from  all  passers  by.  The  degi'aded  population 
who  live  in  the  filthy  region  east  of  Bowery,  from 
Catharine  to  Canal  Streets,  come  up  on  to  the  pave- 
ment of  this  broad  thoroughfare  to  breathe  and  drive 
their  trade.  Early  in  the  morning  troops  of  young 
girls  can  be  seen,  thinly  clad  and  barefooted,  on  their 
way  to  the  dram-shops.  These  shops  are  very  numer- 


The  Bowery, 


235 


ous,  and,  with  the  lager  beer  gardens,  are  opened 
early,  and  are  crowded.  These  places  are  mostly 
kept  by  Germans.  The  Italians  and  Irish  are  also  in 
the  business.  On  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  Bowery, 
for  its  entire  length,  is  crowded.  At  night  it  is  bril- 
liantly illuminated,  and  the  drinking  places  are  filled 
by  thousands  of  women,  children  and  men.  The 
lowest  drinking  places,  the  vilest  concert  saloons,  ne- 
gro ministrelsy  of  the  lowest  order,  and  theatricals 
the  most  debasing,  distinguish  the  pastimes  of  the 
Bowery.  These  places,  open  on  Sunday,  are  jammed 
to  suffocation  Sunday  nights.  Actresses  too  corrupt 
and  dissolute  to  play  anywhere  else  appear  on  the 
boards  at  the  Bowery.  Broad  farces,  indecent  com- 
edies, plays  of  highwaymen,  and  murderers,  are  re- 
ceived with  shouts  by  the  reeking  crowd  that  fill 
the  low  theatres.  News-boys,  street-sweepers,  rag- 
pickers, begging  girls,  collectors  of  cinders,  and  all 
who  can  beg  or  steal  a  dime  fill  the  galleries  of 
these  corrupt  places  of  amusement.  Tliere  is  not  a 
dance-cellar,  a  free-and-easy,  a  concert-saloon,  or^a  vile 
drinking  place,  that  presents  such  a  view  of  the  de- 
pravity and  degradation  of  New  York  as  the  gallery 
of  a  Bowery  theatre. 

LAGEE  BEER  GAEDENS. 

These  immense  establishments,  patronized  by  the 
Germans,  are  located  in  the  Bowery.  They  will  hold 
from  a  thousand  to  fifteen  hundred  persons.  The 
Atlantic  Gardens  will  seat  comfortably,  up  stairs 
and  down,  one  thousand.  All  day  on  Sunday  they 
are  filled.    People  are  coming  and  going  all  the 


236  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

* 

while.  The  rooms  are  very  neat,  and  even  tastefully 
fitted  up,  as  all  German  places  of  amusement  are. 
The  vilest  of  them  have  a  neatness  and  an  attractive- 
ness not  found  among  any  other  nation.  The  music 
is  first  class.  A  piano,  harp,  violin,  drums,  and  brass 
instruments,  are  played  by  skillful  performers.  The 
Germans  visit  these  gardens  to  spend  the  day.  They 
are  eminently  social.  They  come,  husband  and  wife, 
with  all  the  children,  brothers  and  sisters,  cousins 
and  neighbors ;  nor  are  the  old  folks  omitted.  The 
family  bring  with  them  a  basket  of  provisions,  as  if 
they  were  on  a  picnic.  Comfortable  rooms  are  pro- 
vided for  their  entertainment.  They  gather  as  a 
family  around  a  table.  They  exchange  social  greet- 
ings, and  enjoy  to  their  bent  the  customs  of  their 
fatherland.  They  play  dominoes,  cards,  dice;  they 
sing,  they  shout,  they  dance ;  in  some  places  billiards 
and  bowling  are  added,  with  rifle  shooting.  The 
room  and  entertainment  are  free  to  all.  A  welcome 
is  extended  to  every  comer.  The  long  bar,  immense 
in  extent,  tells  the  story.  Here  the  landlord,  his 
wife,  and  may  be  his  daughters,  with  numerous 
waiters,  furnish  the  lager  beer  which  sustains  the 
establisment.  The  quantity  sold  in  a  day  is  enor- 
mous. A  four -horse  team  from  the  brewery,  drawing 
the  favorite  beverage,  finds  it  difiicult  to  keep  up  the 
supply.  A  large  portion  of  the  visitors  are  young 
lads  and  girls.  So  immensely  profital)le  is  tlie  sale 
of  lager  beer  in  these  gardens,  that  the  proprietors 
are  willing  to  pay  at  any  time  quite  a  sum  to  any 
large  association  who  will  spend  the  day  on  their 
premises. 


The  Bowery. 


237 


A  WALK  UP  THE  AVENUE. 

Leaving  the  City  Hall  about  six  o'clock  on  Sunday 
night,  and  walking  through  Chatham  Square  to  the 
Bowery,  one  would  not  believe  that  New  York  had 
any  claim  to  be  a  Christian  city,  or  that  the  Sabbath 
had  any  friends.  The  shops  are  open,  despite  the 
Sunday  law,  and  trade  is  brisk.  Abandoned  females 
go  in  swarms,  and  crowd  the  sidewalk.  Their  dress, 
manner  and  language  indicate  that  depravity  can  go 
no  lower.  Sunday  theaters,  concert  saloons,  and 
places  of  amusement  are  in  full  blast.  The  Italians 
and  Irish  shout  out  their  joy  from  the  rooms  they 
occupy.  The  click  of  the  billiard  ball,  and  the  boom- 
ing of  the  ten-pin  alley,  are  distinctly  heard.  Before 
midnight,  victims  watched  for  will  be  secured;  men 
heated  with  liquor,  or  drugged,  v/ill  be  robbed ;  and 
many  curious  and  bold  explorers  in  this  locality  will 
curse  the  hour  in  which  they  resolved  to  spend  a 
Sunday  in  the  Bowery. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


mCIDEXTS  IN  CITY  EVANGELIZATION. 

THE  NEW  YORK  CITY  MISSION — ORIGIN  OF  THE  "WORK — THRILLING  INCI- 
DENTS—TEMPERANCE IN  A  RUM  SALOON — RESCUE  OF  THE  DESTITUTE 
—  A  SOLDIER  IN  TROUBLE  —  A  YOUNG  MAN's  STORY  —  NOT  EASILY 
DISCOURAGED  —  A  MISSIONARY'S  DAILY  WORK  —  A  FOOL  ANSWERED 
ACCORDING  TO  HIS  FOLLY. 

THE  Kew  York  City  Mission,  though  not  under 
that  name,  was  founded  February  19,  1827. 
Into  this  was  merged  the  Young  Men's  Tract  Society 
Avhich  was  formed  in  1825.  The  work  of  tlie  society 
for  two  years  was  to  supply  with  tracts  the  ship- 
])ing,  markets,  humane  and  criminal  institutions,  and 
the  outskii'ts  of  the  city.  In  June,  1832,  a  new  fea- 
ture in  the  work  was  introduced,  especially  by  the 
lamented  Harlan  Page.  It  was  the  concentrated 
elfort  and  prayer  for  the  salvation  of  individuals. 
This  gave  directness  and  efficiency  to  the  society, 
and  missionaries  were  employed  to  labor  in  the  des- 
titute Avards  of  the  city.  From  November,  1834,  to 
1866,  the  number  of  regular  missionaries  increased 
from  twelve  to  forty-five.  The  work  among  the  New 
York  poor  and  neglected  has  continued  for  over  fifty 
years.  The  society  now  employs  forty  six  mission- 
aries, with  twenty  stations.    These  men,  during  a 


City  Evangelization, 


239 


single  year,  have  made  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
thousand  visits  to  the  neglected  homes  of  the  city, 
have  reached  fifty-three  thousand  nine  hundred 
families,  and  have  distributed  nearly  two  millions 
of  tracts  in  twelve  different  tongues.  Walking 
through  the  lanes  and  by-ways  of  the  city,  they  per- 
suade the  multitudes  to  go  to  the  house  of  God  and 
to  the  Sunday  School.  Their  work  among  neglected 
and  vagrant  boys  and  girls  is  very  successful.  Tem- 
porary relief  has  been  afforded  to  the  needy,  and 
employment  found  for  the  stranger.  Friendless  girls 
— and  they  are  counted  by  thousands — have  been  led 
to  houses  of  security  and  protection.  Fallen  women 
have  been  led  back  to  the  path  of  rectitude,  and  over 
ten  thousand  have  been  led  to  attend  some  place  of 
worship.  Young  men  have  been  enlisted  in  the 
mission  work;  religious  reading  has  been  furnished 
to  police  stations  and  the  rooms  of  firemen ;  and  this 
presents  but  a  feeble  view  of  the  work  of  all  shades 
and  hues  that  the  lowly  demand,  and  these  devout 
and  self-denying  men  perform. 

THEILLING  INCIDEOTS. 

No  book  of  romance  could  be  made  as  thrilling  as 
one  filled  with  the  details  of  real  life  among  the  des- 
titute poor  of  New  York.  Men  and  women  come 
here  from  all  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  Union  and 
the  world.  They  come  for  hope  of  gain ;  to  make  a 
fortune ;  to  get  a  livelihood,  and  to  hide  their  char- 
acters in  the  wilderness  of  this  great  people.  Many 
bring  with  'them  a  little  money,  and  hope  to  increase 
their  store.    Many  are  seduced  from  home  by  offers  of 


240 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


employment.  Many  come  under  promises  of  marriage. 
Sickness,  bad  society,  sudden  temptation  and  crime 
plunged  them  into  want.  Many  sincerely  repent,  but 
are  not  able  to  escape  from  the  mire  into  which  they 
have  fallen.  The  arm  of  the  benevolent  and  the  reli- 
gious must  help  and  rescue  the  fallen.  In  the 
thousands  of  visits  that  missionaries  pay,  facts  that 
thrill  the  heart  and  move  the  compassion  are  daily 
gathered. 

TEMPERA]S"CE         A  EUM  SALOON. 

In  a  saloon  where  tracts  had  been  previously  left 
without  opposition,  the  keeper  said  to  the  assistant, 
"I  wish  you  and  your  tracts  were  in  hell;  you  have 
made  my  customers  crazy ;  you  have  injured  my 
business."  This  was  said  with  oaths  and  curses. 
As  the  visitor  left  the  house,  a  man  followed  him, 
who  said,  "That  barkeeper  told  some  truth.  I  was 
a  hard  drinker';  within  six  months  I  have  spent  five 
hundred  dollars  in  his»house;  but  since  I  read  your 
tracts  I  have  quit  drinking,  and  spent  my  time  in 
seeking  my  soul's  salvation. "  He  stated  that  three 
others  had  followed  his  example,  and  they  went 
together  to  church  on  the  Sabbath. 

As  the  assistant  was  crossing  the  Brooklyn  ferry, 
he  was  accosted  by  a  genteely-dressed  man,  who  said, 
"I  believe  you  are  the  person  who,  in  August  last, 
took  a  wretched,  bloated  drunkard  into  the  mission 
in  Greenwich  Street.  After  he  signed  the  pledge^ 
you  gave  him  some  clothing,  and  money  to  pay  his 
fare  to  Brooklyn."  The  assistant  remembered  such 
a  case.  "Well."  said  the  man,  "I  am  tli^t  maix 
Leaving  you,  1  went  to  my  old  employer,  told  nim  * 


City  JEvangelization.  241 


had  signed  the  pledge,  and  asked  him  to  try  me 
again.  With  many  fears  he  took  me  back.  I 
thank  God  that  by  his  grace  I  have  kept  ray  pledge, 
and  gained  my  employer's  confidence.  I  am  now  a 
member  of  the  church,  and  an  officer  in  the  Sabbath 
School." 

EESCUE  OF  TIIE  DESTITUTE. 

A  Christian  lady,  riding  from  Newark  to  New 
York,  met  in  the  cars  a  girl  in  distress,  and  on  reach- 
ing the  city,  she  led  her  to  the  mission.  The  girl's 
story  was  briefly  this  :  She  was  a  German  orphan, 
sixteen  years  old,  at  service  in  Erie,  Pa.  Another 
girl  had  persuaded  her  to  go  with  her  to  New  York, 
where,  she  was  told,  she  could  live  without  doing 
much  work.  Having  money  on  hand,  saved  from  her 
earnings,  she  agreed  to  go;  and  they  started  together. 
At  Dunkirk,  in  the  changing  of  cars,  they  became 
separated,  and  this  girl  remained  and  took  the  next 
train.  A  respectable  looking  woman  in  the  same 
car,  seeing  her  weep,  tendered  her  sympathy,  and 
told  her  she  lived  in  New  York,  and  would  take  her 
to  a  good  place.  On  their  arrival  at  Jersey  City,  she 
took  the  cars  for  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  they  put  up 
at  a  public  house,  and  occupied  the  same  room  for 
the  night.  When  the  girl  awoke  in  the  morning,  her 
money,  and  her  clothing,  and  her  friend  were  gone. 
She  could  not  leave  her  room,  she  was  completely 
stripped.  The  wife  of  the  hotel  keeper  had  com- 
passion on  her,  and  gave  her  an  old  dress  and  a 
ticket  to  this  city.  Her  experience  among  strangers 
had  made  her  anxious  to  return  home.    The  funds 


242 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


needful  to  clothe  her  comfortably,  and  procure  a 
passage  ticket  to  Erie  were  raised,  and  in  a  few  days 
she  left  for  home,  grateful  that  she  had  been  provi- 
dentially saved  from  ruin.  She  returned  to  the 
family  she  left,  and  in  writing,  says,  "I  think  the 
Lord  led  me  to  your  mission  to  convert  me. " 

A  SOLDIER  IN  TROUBLE.  - 

Being  requested  to  visit  a  needy  family,  the  mis-w 
sionary  hastened  to  the  place  given  as  their  abode. ' 
This  was  in  an  upper  room  of  an  old  tenement  house. 
On  inquiry,  he  found  it  to  be  the  family  of  one  who 
had  fought  under  the  stars  and  stripes.    He  had 
been  discharged  from  the  service.    His  wife  was  i 
confined  to  her  bed  by  sickness,  and  was  so  feeble  asj 
to  be  seemingly  but  just  alive.    Three  small  but  in- 
teresting children  were  shivering  over  a  scanty  fire. 
The  soldier-husband  and  father  acted  as  nurse  and; 
housekeeper.    His  room,  both  in  order  and  cleanli- - 
ness,  gave  evidence  that  he  was  one  of  those  who 
could  turn  his  hand  to  almost  everything.  Generous 
persons  placed  means  in  the  hands  of  the  mission- 
aries for  benevolent  purposes,  and  the  family  was 
relieved.    Spiritual  as  well  as  temporal  ministrations  | 
were  thankfully  received,  and  the  missionary  always  I 
found  a  welcome.  . 

A  YOUNG  man's  STORY. 

"In  September,  1873,  I  left  my  country  home  to* 
seek  my  fortune  in  the  metropolis  of  the  nation,j 
willing  to  work  at  anything  tliat  Providence  should) 
place  in  my  way,  unmindful  what  it  might  be.  Upon 

! 


OiTY  Evangelization. 


243 


my  arrival  here,  the  crisis  was  just  beginning  to  tell 
with  fearful  effect  upon  all  classes.  Persons  in  almost 
every  branch  of  industry  were  thrown  out  of  employ- 
ment, and  even  the  best  known  and  most  skillful 
found  it  difficult  to  obtain  work  at  the  then  greatly 
reduced  rates  of  compensation.  I  had  previously 
worked  at  a  trade,  but  leaving  before  my  time  had 
expired  I  was  not  entitled  to  a  recommendation,  nor 
did  I  get  one.  I  had  recourse  to  Mr.  the  mis- 
sionary's kind  offices.  I  called  on  him,  stated  my 
case,  and  after  he  had  listened  to  my  story,  he  con- 
cluded to  give  me  a  recommendation,  in  substance, 
as  follows : — 

"  'This  is  to  certify  that  I  believe  to  be  a 

faithful,  honest,  and  industrious  boy,  and  that  I  take 
great  pleasure  in  recommending  him  to  any  person 
who  may  need  his  services,  feeling  satisfied  that  all 
work  given  him  will  be  performed  to  the  best  of  his 
ability.' 

"With  this  in  my  pocket,  I  again  went  forth,  and 
soon  succeeded  in  obtaining  work  at  the  miserable 
pittance  of  a  dollar  and  a  half  per  week,  in  a  large 
manufactory  where  they  were  making  a  new  article, 
on  which  the  profits  were  at  least  a  hundred  per 
cent.  I  worked  there  for  eighteen  months,  and  the 
largest  sum  I  obtained  was  two  dollars  and  a  half 
per  week.  During  this  time  my  winter  evenings 
were  spent  in  reading  and  at  night  school,  never 
going  to  a  place  of  amusement  of  any  kind  but  once 
in  all  that  time.  In  this  way  I  became  more  perfect 
in  my  education,  and  when  fortune  smiled  on  me  I 
found  myself  reasonably  competent  to  meet  its  du- 


244 


WONDERS  OF  A  GREAT  CiTY. 


ties ;  and  commencing  in  my  position  at  a  salary  of 
nine  dollars  per  week,  it  has  gone  on  increasing  until 
now  it  is  two  thousand  dollars  a  year.  Many  times 
during  the  last  nine  years  I  had  promised  myself  the 
pleasure  of  calling  on  and  thanking  the  kind  giver 
of  that  recommendation,  to  which  I  owe  my  present 
success ;  but  through  some  means  or  other  my  good 
intentions  were  not  carried  into  execution  in  time  to 
see  my  generous  friend  on  earth,  and  I  can  show  my 
gratitude  in  no  better  way  than  in  aiding  the  good 
work  in  which  he  was  engaged,  which  I  propose 
doing  in  proportion  to  my  means. " 

A  missionaky's  daily  work. 

Like  his  experience,  the  duties  of  a  city  missionary 
are  at  times  very  peculiar.  This  is  true,  at  least,  when- 
ever he  has  to  convert  a  butcher's  shop  into  a  mission 
station.    For  example,  he  begins  the  day  at  an  early 
hour,  and  is  occupied  with  things  ordinary  and  ex- 
traordinary until  ten.    He  then  goes  over  to  James 
Pyle's  to  beg  a  box  of  soap ;  and  glad  at  the  success 
of  his  errand,  he  runs  two  or  three  blocks  on  his  way 
back,  out  of  mere  forgetf ulness.    Now  he  has  direc- 
tions to  give  some  workmen  waiting  to  receive  him  ;  a 
conversation  with  the  gas-fitter,  and  a  conference  j 
with  the  carpenter,  which  is  presently  interrupted  by  ' 
the  woman  who  has  come  to  clean,  declaring  that  j 
nothing  worth  naming  can  be  done  until  the  mission-  j 
ar}^  goes  to  the  corner  grocery  for  "a  scrubbing  brush' ' 
and  five  cent's  worth  of  washing-soda."    These  pro-  j 
cured,  it  is  found  that  there  is  some  whitewashing  to  I 
to  be  done,  and  unfortunately  there  is  no  one  but  j 


City  Evangelization. 


245 


"the  man  of  all  work"  to  do  it ;  and  so,  because  the 
work,  already  too  long  delayed,  must  not  be  hindered, 
nothing  is  left  but  for  the  poor  missionary  to  mount 
an  empty  dry-goods  box  and  swing  his  brush  until 
two  long  hours  have  filled  him  with  fatigue  and  dis- 
gust. But  it  is  twelve  o'clock,  and  he  has  scarcely 
time  for  a  hasty  washing  of  hands  and  face,  the  re- 
moval of  sundry  "trade  marks"  from  his  coat  and 
hat,  and  the  polishing  of  his  boots  with  a  newspaper, 
for  he  has  an  appointment  shortly  after  noon. 

In  an  upper  room  a  little  company  is  gathered, 
while  below  a  hearse  and  carriage  stand  waiting  at 
the  door.  For  the  days  of  only  one  week  w^as  the 
daughter  and  sister  visited  before  death  came  to  put 
an  end  to  all  preparation.  Looking  upon  the  peace- 
ful form,  clad  in  the  garments  of  the  grave,  where 
before  the  violence  of  pain  almost  prevented  the  ut- 
terance of  bodily  fear,  and  restless  desire,  and  ardent 
hope  at  last,  a  theme  was  at  once  suggested,  and  the 
missionary  found  refreshment  for  his  own  spirit  while 
he  endeavored  to  comfort  and  instruct  with  thoughts 
of  the  happiness  of  that  home,  and  of  the  nature 
and  importance  of  the  efforts  to  reach  it,  Avhere  the 
wicked  cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary  are  at 
rest. 

A  FOOL  ANSWEEED  ACCORDING  TO  HIS  FOLLY. 

The  missionary  has  often  occasion  for  all  his  wits, 
and  must  sometimes  "answer  a  fool  according  to  his 
folly. "  On  the  top  floor  of  a  tenement-house  in  Mott 
Street,  lives  a  shoemaker,  a  hard  drinker  and  a  scoffer 
at  religious  things ;  but  with  all  this  a  good-tempered 


246 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


fellow,  wlio  will  bear  plain  talking.  His  family,  and 
some  girls  who  work  with  him,  are  in  the  habit  of  at- 
tending our  meetings.  One  day  in  November,  as  the 
assistant  was  visiting  them,  with  an  evident  design 
to  make  sport  of  him  and  his  work,  the  shoemaker 

turned  upon  him,  saying,  "Mr.  P  ,  you  have  made 

all  my  family  believe  there  is  a  devil :  now,  did  you 
ever  see  him?"  "O,  yes  sir,"  said  he,  "very  many 
times.  I  can't  say  I  ever  saw  the  big  old  devil — he  is 
too  cunning  for  that ;  but  I  have  see  a  great  many 
little  ones.  I  saw  one  or  two  just  before  I  came  into 
your  house."  He  wanted  to  know  how  they  looked. 
"Well,  they  were  very  much  bloated  up,  eyes  red, 
face  a  little  peeled  and  bruised,  and,  phew  !  what  a 
breath  !  One  of  them  seemed  to  be  holding  the  other 
up ;  and  as  I  was  coming  up  stairs  they  were  holding 
on  to  the  lamp-post  to  keep  from  falling."  "Well, 
sir,"  said  he,  "I  never  saw  the  devil,  and  Fd  like  to 
see  one. "  He  felt  he  was  in  for  it,  that  the  women 
were  laughing  at  him  behind  his  back,  and  that  he 
must  make  as  good  a  fight  as  he  could.  With  that 
the  assistant  led  him  up  to  his  glass,  saying,  "Look 
there  ;  you  will  see  the  description  is  all  right."  "Do 
you  mean  to  call  me  a  devil?"  "Now,  don't  get  mad; 
you  know  you  began  it."  "That's  so,"  said  he  ;  "but 
I'd  like  to  have  you  prove  I'm  a  devil."  "Well,  I'll 
prove  you  are  a  little  one  from  Scripture.  The  Savior 
told  the  Jews,  ^Ye  are  of  your  father  the  devil ;  the 
lusts  of  your  father  ye  will  do.'  And  the  apostle 
says,  *Now  the  works  of  the  flesh'— that  is,  of  the 
devil — ^are  manifest,  which  are  these:  adulteries, 
murders,  drunkeness,    revellings,    and  such  like." 


QiTY  Evangelization.  247 


Without  a  word,  he  turned  on  his  heel,  went  to  his 
bench,  and  took  up  his  lapstone.  "la  devil" — rap, 
rap — "proved  too  by  Scripture" — rap,  rap — "pretty 
tough  that  on  a  fellow" — rap,  rap,  rap.  His  wife 
has  told  us  he  has  not  taken  a  drop  since  of  any  kind 
of  liquor,  not  even  beer. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
BUSINESS  REVERSES  IN  NEW  YORK. 


MIRAGE    OF    WEALTH. — RAILROAD    CONDUCTOR. — A    RAJLROAD  KING.^ 
SARATOGA  BELLE. — ROCK  IN  THE  CHANNELS. — SUCCESS  A  COY  THING. 
OLD-SCHOOL  MERCHANTS. 


MEN  who  visit  New  York,  and  see  nothing  but 
the  outside  aspect  which  it  presents,  imagine 
that  success  is  one  of  the  easiest  things  in  the  world, 
and  to  heap  up  riches  a  mere  pastime  in  the  city. 
They  are  familiar  with  the  name  and  history  of  the 
Astors.  They  .  know  that  Stewart  began  life  a  poor 
boy,  kept  a  store  in  a  small  shanty,  and  kept 
house  in  a  few  rooms  in  a  dwelling,  and  boarded 
his  help.  They  walk  through  Fifth  Avenue, 
and  look  on  the  outside  of  palaces  where  men 
dwell  who  left  home  a  few  years  ago  with  their 
worldly  wealth  tied  up  in  a  cotton  handkerchief.  They 
stroll  around  Central  Park,  and  magnificient  teams, 
gay  equipages,  and  gayer  ladies  and  gentlemen,  go  by 
in  a  constant  stream  ;  and  men  are  pointed  out  who  a 
short  time  ago  were  grooms,  coachmen,  ticket-takers, 
boot-blacks,  news-boys,  printer's  devils,  porters,  and 
coal-heavers,  who  have  come  up  from  the  lower  walks 
of  life  by  dabbling  in  stocks,  by  a  lucky  speculation,  or 


jBusiness  He  verses 


249 


a  sudden  turn  of  fortune.  So  young  men  pour  in  from 
the  country,  confident  of  success,  and  ignorant  that 
these  men  are  the  exceptions  to  the  general  law  of 
trade ;  and  that  ruin  and  not  success,  defeat  and  not 
fortune,  bankruptcy  and  not  a  fine  competence,  are 
the  law  of  New  York  trade. 

Nothing  is  more  striking  or  more  sad  than  the  com- 
mercial reverses  of  this  city.  They  come  like  tempests 
and  hail  storms  which  threaten  every  man's  plantation, 
and  cut  down  the  harvest  ready  for  the  sickle.  Few 
firms  have  had  permanent  success  for  twenty-five 
years.  In  one  house  in  this  city  twenty  men  are  em- 
ployed as  salesmen  on  a  salary,  who,  ten  years  ago, 
were  called  princely  merchants,  whose  families  lived 
in  style,  and  who  led  the  fiishions.  Men  who  embark 
on  the  treacherous  sea  of  mercantile  life  are  ingulfed, 
and  while  their  richly-laden  barks  go  down,  they 
escape  personally  by  the  masts  and  spars  thrown  to 
them  by  more  fortunate  adventurers.  One  house  in 
this  city,  quite  as  celebrated  at  one  time  as  Stewart's, 
who,  in  imitation  of  that  gentleman,  built  their  marble 
store  on  Broadway,  are  now  salesmen  in  establishments 
more  successful  than  their  own.  New  York  is  full  of 
reduced  merchants.  Some  of  them  bravely  bear  up 
under  their  reverses.  Some  hide  away  in  the  multitude 
of  our  people.  Some  take  rooms  in  tenant-houses. 
Some  do  a  little  brokerage  business,  given  to  them  by 
those  who  knew  them  in  better  days.  Some  take  to 
j    the  bottle,  and  add  moral  to  commercial  ruin. 


250 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


RAILROAD  CONDUCTOR. 

Riding  down  town  one  night  in  one  of  our  city  cars, 
I  paid  my  fare  to  a  conductor  who  gave  me  a  sharp, 
searching  look.  When  below  Canal  street,  as  there 
were  no  other  passengers  in  the  car,  he  came  and  sat 
down  beside  me.  He  said,  "I  know  you  very  well, 
though  T  suppose  }  ou  do  not  know  me.  I  used  to  go 
to  school  with  you  in  Boston."  I  remembered  him  as 
the  son  of  a  wealthy  gentleman  not  unknown  to  fame 
in  that  city.  His  father  had  an  elegant  house  in  the 
city,  and,  what  was  then  unusual,  a  fine  mansion  in  the 
country.  The  st)n  was  indulged  in  luxuries  unusual  in 
that  day.  •  He  had  a  pony  on  which  he  rode  to  school, 
and  was  attended  by  a  servant.  He  had  a  watch  and 
other  trinkets  that  excited  the  envy  of  his  companions. 
His  father  lived  in  grand  style,  and  his  equipage 
attracted  general  attention.  He  lived  fast,  but  it  was 
said  he  could  afford  it.  To  maintain  his  position  he 
was  tempted  to  commit  a  great  crime.  Able  counsel 
saved  him  from  the  penitentiary,  but  his  ruin  was  com- 
plete, and  his  family  shared  in  the  general  wreck. 
His  children  are  now  scattered  over  the  country,  to 
earn  a  living  wherever  they  can  find  it.  This  son,  well 
educated,  tenderly  cared  for,  and  trained  to  every 
indulgence,  gets  his  as  the  conductor  .^f  a  citj  railroad 
car,  a  calling  laborious  and  ill  paid. 

A  RAILROAD  KING. 

One  of  the  most  successful  railroad  men  of  New  Yoi  k 
boarded  at  one  of  our  principal  hotels.  He  was  an 
unmarried  man.    He  was  accounted  an  eminent  anf« 


Business  I^e  verses. 


251 


successful  financier.  His  reputation  and  standing  were 
unquestioned.  He  was  connected  with  the  principal 
capitalist  in  the  city,  and  was  one  whom  New  York 
delighted  to  honor.  In  a  small  house  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  city  he  had  a  home.  Here  he  lived  a  part 
of  his  time,  and  reared  a  family,  though  the  mother  of 
his  children  was  not  his  wife,  Down  town,  at  his  hotel, 
he  passed  by  one  name,  up  town,  in  his  house,  he  was 
known  by  another.  It  would  seem  impossible  that  a 
prominent  business  man,  reputed  to  be  rich,  brought 
into  daily  business  contact  wdth  princely  merchants 
and  bankers,  the  head  of  a  large  railroad  interest,  could 
reside  in  New  York,  and  for  a  number  of  years  lead 
the  double  life  of  a  bachelor  and  a  man  of  family ;  be 
known  by  one  name  down  town,  and  anpther  name  up 
town ;  yet  so  it  was.  At  his  hotel  and  at  his  office  he 
was  found  at  the  usual  hours.  To  his  up-town  home 
he  came  late  and  went  out  early.  There  he  was  seldom 
seen.  The  landlord,  the  butcher,  the  grocer,  and  the 
milkman  transacted  all  their  business  with  the  lady. 
Bills  were  promptlj^  paid,  and  no  questions  asked. 
The  little  girls  became  young  ladies.  They  went  to 
the  best  boarding-schools  in  the  land. 

An  unexpected  crisis  came.  A  clergyman  in  good 
standing  became  acquainted  with  one  of  the  daughters 
at  her  boarding-school.  He  regarded  her  with  so  much 
interest,  that  he  solicited  her  hand  in  marriage.  He 
was  referred  to  the  mother.  The  daughters  had  said 
that  their  father  was  a  wealthy  merchant  of  New 
York ;  but  his  name  did  not  appear  in  the  Directory, 
he  was  not  known  on  'change.  The  lover  only  knew 
the  name  by  which  the  daughters  were  called.  The 


252  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


mother  was  affable,  but  embarrassed.  The  gentleman 
thought  something  was  wrong,  and  insisted  on  a  per- 
sonal interview  with  the  father.  The  time  was  ap- 
pointed for  the  interview.  The  young  man  was  greatly 
astonished  to  discover  in  the  father  of  the  young  lady 
one  of  the  most  eminent  business  men  of  the  city.  He 
gave  his  consent  to  the  marriage,  and  promised  to  do 
well  by  the  daughter,  though  he  admitted  that  the 
mother  of  the  young  lady  was  not  his  wife.  The 
clergyman  was  greatly  attached  to  the  young  woman, 
who  was  really  beautiful  and  accomplished.  He  agreed 
to  lead  her  to  the  altar,  if,  at  the  same  time,  the  mer- 
chant would  make  the  mother  his  wife.  This  was 
agreed  to,  and  the  double  wedding  was  consumma>£,a 
the  same  night.  The  father  and  mother  were  first 
married,  and  then  the  father  gave  away  the  daughter. 
The  affair  created  a  ten  days'  sensation.  The  veil  of 
secrecy  was  removed.  The  family  took  the  down-town 
name,  which  was  the  real  one  —  a  name  among  the 
most  honored  in  the  city.  An  up-town  fashionable 
mansion  was  purchased,  and  fitted  up  in  style.  Crowds 
filled  the  spacious  parlors,  for  there  was  just  piquancy 
enough  in  the  case  to  make  it  attractive.  Splendid 
coaches  of  the  fashionable  filled  the  street ;  a  dashing 
company  crowded  the  pavement,  and  rushed  up  the 
steps  to  enjoy  the  sights.  These  brilliant  parties  con- 
tinued but  a  short  time.  The  merchant  was  rotten  at 
heart.  All  New  York  was  astounded  one  day  at  the 
report  that  the  great  railroad  king  had  become  a  gi- 
gantic defaulter,  and  had  absconded.  His  crash  carried 
down  fortunes  and  families  with  his  own.  Commercial 
circles  yet  suffer  for  his  crimes.    The  courts  are  still 


Business  Reverses. 


253 


fretted  with  suits  between  great  corporations  and  indi- 
viduals growing  out  of  these  transactions.  Fashionable 
New  York,  which  could  overlook  twenty  years  of 
criminal  life,  could  not  excuse  poverty.  It  took  re- 
prisals for  bringing  this  family  into  social  position  by 
hurling  it  back  into  an  obscurity  from  which  probably 
it  will  never  emerge. 

SARATOGA  BELLE. 

A  few  summers  ago  a  lady  of  New  York  reigned  as 
a  belle  at  Saratoga.  Her  elegant  and  numerous 
dresses,  valuable  diamonds,  and  dashing  turnout  at- 
tracted great  attention.  Her  husband  was  a  quiet  sort 
of  a  man,  attending  closely  to  his  business.  He  came 
to  Saratoga  on  Saturdays,  and  returned  early  on  Mon- 
day morning.  The  lady  led  a  gay  life,  was  the  centre 
of  attraction,  patronized  the  plays,  and  was  eagerly 
sought  as  a  partner  at  the  balls.  After  a  very  brilliant 
and  gay  season  she  disappeared  from  fashionable  life, 
and  was  soon  forgotten.  One  cold  season  a  benevolent 
New  York  lady  visited  a  tenement-house  on  an  errand 
of  mercy.  Mistaking  the  door  to  which  she  was  di- 
rected, she  knocked  at  a  corresponding  one  on  another 
story.  The  door  was  opened  by  a  female,  who  looked 
on  the  visitor  for  an  instant,  and  then  suddenly  closed 
the  door.  The  lady  was  satisfied  that  she  had  seen 
the  woman  somewhere,  and  thinking  she  might  afford 
aid  to  a  needy  person,  she  persistently  knocked  at  the 
door  till  it  was  opened.  Judge  of  her  surprise  when 
she  found  that  the  occupant  of  that  room,  in  that  tene- 
ment-house, was  the  dashing  belle  whom  she  had  met 
a  season  or  two  before  at  the  Springs !    In  one  room 


254 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


herself  and  husband  lived,  in  a  building  overrun  with 
occupants,  crowded  with  children,  dirt,  and  turbulence. 
Mortification  and  suffering,  blended  with  poverty,  in  a 
few  months  had  done  the  work  of  years  on  that  comely 
face.  Her  story  was  the  old  one  repeated  a  thousand 
times.  Reverses,  like  a  torrent,  suddenly  swept  away 
a  large  fortune.  Her  husband  became  discouraged, 
disconsolate,  and  refused  to  try  again.  He  lost  his 
self-respect,  took  to  the  bowl,  and  became  a  drunkard. 
The  wife  followed  him  step  by  step  in  his  descent,  from 
his  high  place  among  the  merchants  to  his  home 
among  the  dissolute.  To  furnish  herself  and  husband 
with  bread,  she  parted  with  her  dresses,  jewels,  and 
personal  effects.  She  pointed  to  a  heap  in  the  corner, 
covered  with  rags,  and  that  was  all  that  remained  of 
a  princely  merchant ! 

ROCK  IN   THE  CHANNEL. 

The  speculating  mania  which  pervades  New  York  is 
one  of  the  rocks  in  the  channel  on  which  so  many 
strike  and  founder.  Shrewd,  enterprising  men,  who 
are  engaged  in  successful  business,  are  induced  to  make 
investments  in  stocks  and  operations  of  various  kinds, 
and  are  thus  at  the  mercy  of  sharpers.  Their  balance 
in  the  bank  is  well  known.  Speculators  lay  snares  for 
them,  and  catch  them  with  guile.  A  man  makes 
money  in  a  business  he  understands,  and  loses  it  in 
one  he  knows  nothing  about.  One  is  a  successful  mer- 
chant, and  he  imagines  he  can  be  a  successful  broker ; 
one  stands  at  the  head  of  the  bar,  and  he  thinks  he  can 
lead  the  Stock  Board.  He  is  a  broker ;  he  adds  to  it 
an  interest  in  railroads  or  steamboats.    Men  have  a 


Business  Reverses. 


255 


few  thousand  dollars  that  they  do  not  need  at  present 
in  their  business.  They  are  easily  enticed  into  a  little 
speculation  by  which  they  may  make  their  fortune. 
They  get  in  a  little  way,  and  to  save  what  they  have 
invested  they  advance  more.  They  continue  in  this 
course  until  their  outside  ventures  ruin  their  legitimate 
business.  Stock  com.panies,  patent  medicines,  patent 
machines,  oil  wells,  and  copper  stocks  have  carried 
down  thousands  of  reputed  millionaires,  with  bankers, 
brokers  and  dry  goods  men,  who  have  been  duped  by 
unprincipled  schemers.  Fortunes  made  by  tact,  dili- 
gence and  shrewdness,  are  lost  by  an  insane  desire  to 
make  iifty  or  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  a  day. 
The  mania  for  gaml^ling  i:i  trade  marks  much  of  the 
business  of  New  York.  Stock  gambling  has  brought 
to  the  surface  a  set  of  men  new  to  the  city.  The  stock 
business,  which  was  once  in  the  hands  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial and  respectable  of  our  citizens,  is  now  con- 
trolled by  men  desperate  and  reckless.  No  gamesters 
are  more  desperate  or  more  suddenly  destroyed.  The 
daily  reverses  in  Wall  street  exceed  any  romance 
that  has  been  written.  A  millionaire  leaves  his 
palatial  . residence  in  the  morning,  and  goes  home  at 
night  a  ruined  man.  It  is  a  common  thing  for  specu- 
lators who  can  aiford  it,  to  draw  checks  of  from  fifty 
to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  make  up  their 
losses  in  a  single  day.  One  well-known  speculator, 
unable  to  deliver  the  stock  he  had  pledged  himself 
to  deliver,  drew  his  check  for  the  sum  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  the  amount  of  his 
loss  in  a  single  transaction.    A  man  rides  up  to  Cen- 


256 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


tral  Park  one  afternoon  with  his  dashing  equipage ; 
his  wife  and  proud  daughters  whirl  the  dust  in  the 
eyes  of  well-to-do  citizens  who  are  on  foot.  The  next 
day  this  fine  team  and  elegant  mansion,  with  store 
fuU  of  goods,  go  into  the  hands  of  his  creditors.  He 
sends  his  family  into  the  country,  and  either  disap- 
pears himself,  or  is  seen  in  the  outskirts  of  the  crowd 
waiting  for  something  to  turn  up.  The  reckless 
mode  of  doing  business  leads  to  a  reckless  style  of 
living,  extravagance  and  dissipation,  which  no  legiti- 
mate business  can  support.  The  mania  touches  all 
classes.  Women  and  ministers  are  not  exempt.  One 
pastor  in  this  city  is  a  good  specimen  of  the  power 
of  this  speculating  mania.  The  demon  got  possession 
of  him.  He  made  a  little  money.  He  started  to  make 
five  thousand.  He  moved  the  figure  ahead  to  the 
little  sum  of  a  quarter  of  a  million.  The  business 
transformed  the  man.  His  face  became  haggard ;  his 
eyes  dilated;  his  hair  dishevelled ;  he  could  not  sleep; 
he  bought  all  the  editions  of  the  papers;  got  up  nights 
to  buy  extras ;  chased  the  boys  round  the  corners  for 
the  latest  news;  was  early  at  the  stock  markec,  and 
among  the  last  to  leave  the  Windsor  Hotel  at  night 
when  the  board  closes  its  late  session.  Wliether  a 
quarter  of  a  million  is  worth  what  it  costs,  this  gen- 
tleman can  tell  when  he  gets  it.  A  lady  in  this  city 
came  from  New  England.  She  was  the  child  of  a  sail- 
maker,  and  was  brought  up  in  humble  circumstances. 
A  wealthy  man,  whose  repute  was  not  high,  and  whose 
disposition  was  not  amiable,  offered  her  his  hand.  She 
did  not  expect  love,  nor  hardly  respect,  but  he  offered 


Business  Reverses. 


257 


her  instead  a  coach,  an  elegant  mansion,  and  costly 
jewels.  She  found  herself  suddenly  elevated.  She 
lived  in  commanding  style,  with  her  furniture,  plate, 
and  servants.  She  bore  her  elevation  badly,  and  looked 
down  with  scorn  upon  her  old  friends  and  associates. 
Her  husband  engaged  deeply  in  speculation  ;  it  proved 
a  ruinous  one.  To  help  himself  out  of  a  crisis  he  com- 
mitted forgery.  He  was  sent  to  the  State  Prison.  His 
great  establishment  was  seized.  Her  house  was  sold 
over  her  head  by  the  sheriff.  Her  jewels,  valued  at 
fifteen  thousand  dollars,  were  spirited  away,  and  she 
never  saw  them  more.  She  was  suddenly  elevated, 
and  as  suddenly  hurled  down  to  the  position  from 
which  she  had  been  taken. 

SUCCESS  A  COY  THING. 

The  men  who  are  the  capitalists  of  New  York  to- 
day are  not  the  sons  of  the  wealthy  or  successful  mer- 
chants of  the  city.  They  are  men  whose  fathers  were 
porters,  wood-choppers,  and  coal-heavers.  They  did  the 
hard  work,  swept  out  the  stores,  made  the  fires,  used 
the  marking-pot,  were  kicked  and  cuffed  about,  and 
suffered  every  hardship.  But  they  jostled  and  outran 
the  pampered  son  of  their  employer,  and  carried  off  the 
prize.  The  chief  end  of  man  is  not  to  make  money. 
But  if  one  imagines  that  it  is,  and  that  a  fortune  must 
be  made  at  once,  then  he  will  barter  the  solid  ground 
for  the  mirage,  and  leave  a  successful  business  for  the 
glittering  morass ;  trade  that  insures  a  handsome  com- 
petence for  wild  speculation.  The  hands  on  the  dial 
plate  of  industry  will  stand  still  while  men  grasp  at 
j  shadows. 


258 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


In  New  York,  two  kinds  of  business  greet  a  comer, 
one  bad,  the  other  good ;  one  easy  to  get,  the  other 
hard;  the  one  pays  at  the  start,  the  other  pays  but 
little :  perhaps  the  position  itself  must  be  paid  for.  If 
one  wants  money,  says  he  has  his  fortune  to  make  and 
cannot  wait,  he  will  take  what  turns  up,  and  wait  for 
better  times.  Disreputable  trade,  questionable  busi- 
ness, a  tricky  house,  a  saloon  or  a  bar-room,  are  open  to 
a  reputable  young  man,  and  if  he  have  a  dash  of  piety, 
all  the  better.  But  such  touch  pitch  and  are  defiled ; 
they  seldom  lose  the  taint  of  the  first  business  in 
which  they  are  engaged.  Men  can  be  good  or  bad  in 
any  trade.  They  can  be  sound  lawyers  or  pettifoggers ; 
a  merchant  of  property  or  a  mock  auctioneer ;  a  physi- 
cian whose  skill  and  character  endear  him  to  the  best 
families  in  the  land,  or  a  doctor  whose  "  sands  of  life 
have  almost  run  out ; "  a  preacher  who  says,  "  Woe  is 
me  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel,"  or  a  minister  who,  like 
some  in  the  olden  time,  said,  "  Put  me,  I  pray  thee, 
into  the  priest's  office,  that  I  may  get  me  a  morsel  of 
bread."  There  is  no  permanent  success  without  in- 
tegrity, industry,  and  talent. 

In  trade  there  are  two  codes  that  govern  men.  The 
one  is  expressed  in  the  mottoes,  "  All  is  fair  in  trade 
"  Be  as  honest  as  the  times  will  allow ; "  "  If  you  buy 
the  devil,  you  must  sell  him  again."  The  other  acts  on 
business  principles ;  sells  a  sound  horse  for  a  sound 
price;  gives  the  customer  the  exact  article  that  he 
buys.  The  few  houses  that  have  been  successful,  amid 
an  almost  universal  crash,  have  been  houses  which 
have  done  business  on  principle.  In  cases  where  honor- 
able tradesmen  have  been  obliged  to  suspend,  they  are 


JBusiNESS  Reverses. 


259 


the  last  to  go  down  and  the  first  to  recover.  Manu- 
factories that  have  been  noted  for  goods  of  excellent 
quality  feel  depression  the  latest  and  rise  the  quickest. 
If  a  glass  is  wanted  for  the  Observatory  at  Washington, 
an  order  goes  to  England,  France,  or  Germany;  the 
lens  is  received  and  put  in  its  place  without  trial,  for 
the  reputation  of  the  house  is  a  guarantee  of  its  ex- 
cellence. This  reputation  is  capital,  out  of  which  the 
fortune  is  made.  If  the  stamp  of  Kogers  &  Son  on  a 
piece  of  cutlery  is  genuine,  no  one  wants  a  guarantee 
that  the  knife  is  good.  97  High  Holborn  is  well 
known  throughout  the  civilized  world  as  the  Tower. 
It  is  the  depot  of  Day  &  Martin's  celebrated  blacking. 
The  unquestioned  excellence  of  the  article  has  not 
only  secured  a  fortune  to  the  firm,  but  a  tenant  in  that 
building  is  sure  of  success.  The  location  is  well  known, 
and  the  owners  will  have  none  but  honorable  trades- 
men on  their  premises.  A  box  of  axes  put  up  at  the 
Douglas  manufactory,  in  Massachusetts,  is  not  opened 
till,  hundreds  of  miles  beyond  the  Mississippi,  the  hardy 
woodsman  begins  to  fell  the  forest  —  the  vanguard  of 
civilization.  The  maker  and  the  buyer  know  the  value 
of  integrity  in  business  matters. 

OLD  MERCHANTS. 

The  men  who  founded  the  mercantile  character  of 
this  city  are  known  as  men  of  the  Old  School.  They 
were  celebrated  for  their  courtesy  and  integrity.  They 
came  from  the  humblest  walks  of  life  ;  from  the  plough 
and  anvil ;  from  the  lapstone  and  printing  case ;  from 
the  farm  and  the  quarry.  They  worked  their  way  up,  as 
Daniel  worked  his  from  the  position  of  a  slave  to  Prime 


260  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Minister  of  Babylon.  Some  of  these  men  went  from  the 
store  to  compete  with  the  ablest  statesmen  of  the  world. 
Some  left  their  patients  on  a  sick  bed  to  measure  swords 
with  veteran  commanders  on  the  battle-field.  They 
met  on  the  seas  naval  officers  of  highest  rank,  and  made 
them  haul  down  their  flags  to  the  new  banner  of  our 
nation.  They  sounded  out  freedom  in  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  ;  the  bugle-call  rang  over  hill  and 
dale,  crossed  oceans  and  continents,  into  dungeons,  and 
made  tyrants  tremble  in  their  palace  homes,  —  building 
a  nation  that  no  treason  could  ruin  and  no  foreign  foe 
destroy.  Like  the  Eddystone  lighthouse,  the  Union, 
sometimes  hid  for  a  moment  by  the  angry  surges,  still 
threw  its  steady  light  on  the  turbulent  waters,  and 
guided  the  tempest-tossed  into  the  harbor  where  they 
would  be. 

These  Old  School  men  ate  not  a  bit  of  idle  bread. 
They  were  content  with  their  small  store  and  pine 
desk.  They  owned  their  goods,  and  were  their  own 
cashiers,  salesmen,  clerks,  and  porter.  They  worked 
sixteen  hours  a  day,  and  so  became  millionnaires.  They 
would  as  soon  have  committed  forgery  as  to  have  been 
mean  or  unjust  in  trade.  They  made  their  wealth  in 
business,  and  not  in  fraudulent  failure.  They  secured 
their  fortunes  out  of  their  customers,  and  not  out  of 
their  creditors.  Not  so  Young  America.  He  must 
make  a  dash.  He  begins  with  a  brown-stone  store, 
filled  with  goods  for  which  he  has  paid  nothing ;  mar- 
ries a  dashing  belle ;  delegates  all  the  business  that  he 
can  to  others ;  lives  in  style,  and  spends  his  money 
before  he  gets  it;  keeps  his  fast  horse,  and  other 


JSusiNESs  Reverses. 


261 


appendages  equally  fast ;  is  much  at  the  club  room,  on 
the  sporting  track,  and  in  billiard  or  kindred  saloons ; 
speaks  of  his  father  as  the  "  old  governor,"  and  of  his 
mother  as  the  "old  woman ; "  and  finally  becomes  porter 
to  his  clerk,  and  lackey  to  his  salesman.  Beginning 
where  his  father  left  off;  he  leaves  off  where  his  father 
began. 

PRODUCma  A  SENSATION. 

A  ball  was  given  at  the  Irving  Hall.  Two  gentle 
men  were  looking  on.  One  said  to  the  other,  "Do 
you  see  that  young  fellow  so  dashingly  dressed?" 
"Yes."  "He  is  -our  book-keeper.  He  is  one  of  the 
managers  of  the  ball.  Perhaps  he  can  afford  these 
things;  I  cannot."  The  next  week  there  was  a  va- 
cancy in  that  house.  Quite  different  was  the  line  of 
procedure  in  another  case.  A  clerk  was  guilty  of  ap- 
propriating a  small  sum  of  money  to  his  own  use.  He 
was  detected.  The  broker  called  the  young  man  into 
his  presence,  and  shut  the  door.  "I  could  ruin  you, 
young  man,  and  if  I  discharge  you  you  probably  will 
continue  the  downward  road  on  which  you  have  en- 
tered. I  want  to  show  you  that  on  my  system  of 
doing  business  you  cannot  appropriate  a  cent  without 
my  knowing  it.  You  keep  company  that  you  cannot 
afford.  You  don't  play  very  heavily,  but  you  gamble 
a  little.  Now,  I  am  going  to  make  a  man  of  you. 
You  must  make  a  solemn  promise,  that  you  will  neither 
drink  nor  gamble.  This  agreement  you  must  write 
and  sign."  The  young  man  is  now  cashier  of  one  of  the 
largest  banks,  and  the  broker  is  his  bondsman. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


FAST  LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK. 

RECREATION  OF  THE  FAST  CLASS.  — A  RUINED  MAN,  ONCE  A  FINANCIAL 
KING. — THE  FAST  MEN  AT  THE  CLUB  HOUSES. —  THE  CLUB  HOUSES, 
AND  HOW  THEY  DINE  THERE.  — A  STARTLING  CASE. 

THEEE  is  no  department  or  profession  in  the 
city  where  fast  men  cannot  be  found.  The  pul- 
pit, the  bar,  mercantile  and  banking  life,  have  speci- 
mens of  this  class ;  none  can  be  called  exempt.  The 
temptations  to  hazard  are  very  great,  and  high  life  is 
at  a  premium  among  a  class.  Besides  these  men 
who  are  princes  in  trade,  and  like  the  merchants 
of  Tyre,  are  "the  honorable  of  the  earth,"  are 
men  who  live  for  the  day  and  the  hour,  and  whose 
motto  is,  "all  is  fair  in  trade."  These  men  gain 
money  in  anyv\^ay  that  is  open  to  them,  reckless 
of  consequences.  They  go  for  a  merry  life,  though 
it  be  a  short  one.  If  they  make  five  hundred  dollars, 
they  spend  it  at  once  on  their  whims,  caprices, 
passions  and  appetites.  Penniless  curbstone  brokers 
one  day,  they  have  rooms  at  an  up  town  hotel  the  next, 
ride  down  to  the  street  in  a  coach,  drink  the  costliest 
wine,  eat  the  most  exciting  food,  dash  out  in  a 
splendid  dress,  hire  a  box  at  the  opera,  and  the  next 
week  become  penniless  and  destitute  as  before.  With 
fast  New  York, money  is  every  thing.  Balls,  parties  and 


Fast  Life. 


2G3 


soirees  are  open  to  the  man  of  the  diamond  ring,  and 
who  calls  iii  a  coach.  Parties,  who  a  year  or  two  ago 
were  porters,  stable  boys,  and  coal  heavers,  affect  style, 
and  drive  the  stiuming  turnouts  on  the  park.  Some 
women,  who  give  what  are  called  select  parties,  are 
rude,  coarse,  and  ignorant,  from  whose  persons  the 
marks  of  the  wash  tub  and  the  stiffness  of  their  joints 
from  scrubbing  has  not  been  effaced.  Men  who,  were 
ticket  takers  at  a  ferry,  starters  on  an  omnibus  route,  or 
car  drivers,  buy  expensive  teams,  and  lead  the  fashion 
for  an  hour.  So-called  fashionable  people  will  scram- 
ble for  an  invitation  to  a  masque  ball,  or  a  fancy  party, 
who  would  not  speak  to  the  hostess  outside  of  her  own 
dwelling. 

RECREATIONS  OF  THE   FAST  CLASS. 

The  fashionable  recreations  of  the  fast  class  in  New 
York  are  in  keeping  with  the  low  life  from  which  they 
sprung,  and  with  their  extravagant  habits.  Ladies 
appear  in  their  costly  mansions,  glittering  with  gas, 
and  covered  with  bells.  Extravagant  costumes,  im- 
ported at  fabulous  prices,  represent  monkies,  satan, 
apes,  and  other  forms,  which  show  the  taste  of  the 
wearers.  Servants  are  decked  out  in  gold  and  silver 
livery.  Laboring  men  of  different  nationalities,  are 
hired  for  the  occasion,  and  dressed  up  in  fancy  cos- 
tumes to  represent  nobles  and  barons  of  the  old  world. 
This  style  of  life  i-s  invariably  of  short  duration.  Since 
Lenox,  who  led  the  up  town  movement,  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  his  substantial  dwelling  on  Fifth  Avenue, 
which  is  still  occupied  by  him,  at  least  five  hundred 
families  have  occupied  gorgeous  mansions  and  disap- 


264 


Wonders  of  a  Grka  t  City. 


peared  from  sight.  All  up  and  down  Fifth  Avenue 
are  magnificent  mansions,  built  by  fast  men  of  the 
street,  and  occupied  by  butterflies  of  fashion,  during 
the  brief,  sunny  hour  allotted  to  them.  These  persons 
were  the  rage  and  sensation  for  the  time.  Nothing 
was  good  enough  for  their  use,  in  this  country.  Car- 
pets woven  in  the  most  celebrated  looms  in  foreign 
cities  ;  furniture  manufactured  at  an  immense  cost  in 
Paris,  gold  and  silver  plate  and  china  brought  from 
beyond  the  seas,  were  the  marvels  of  the  hour.  When 
a  party  was  given,  all  New  York  was  stirred  ;  the  side- 
walks were  carpeted,  and  the  mansions  brilliantly 
illuminated.  The  turnouts  were  the  envy  of  the  city. 
Such  dresses,  such  horses,  such  aristocratic  livery,  could 
not  be  matched  in  the  country.  Without  a  single 
exception,  these  fast  livers  of  pleasure  have  gone  out 
of  sight,  not  one  remaining  to-day  who  was  on  the 
surface  ten  years  ago.  Some  that  I  have  seen,  the 
envy  of  Saratoga  and  Newport,  are  dead ;  others 
occupy  tenement  houses  in  the  city  with  drunken  hus- 
bands who  have  added  intemperance  to  financial  rever- 
ses. Many  of  those  magnificent  mansions  on  Fifth 
Avenue  which  were  built  for  the  fast  men  of  the  street, 
are  club  houses  now,  and  the  names  of  their  builders 
and  founders  have  already  perished.  Not  only  from 
the  street,  but  from  social  life,  these  fast  men  have  dis- 
appeared forever.  In  their  ruin  they  have  carried 
down  their  families  with  them. 

A  RUINED  MAN,   ONCE  A  FINANCIAL  KING. 

Every  day  I  meet  on  Wall  street,  a  man  who  fifteen 
years  ago  stood  among  the  richest  and  most  honora- 


Fast  Life. 


265 


ble,  the  representative  of  one  of  the  most  successful 
houses  in  the  country.  He  seldoni  looks  to  the  right 
hand  or  left.  He  is  getting  to  be  an  old  man  now,  but 
stoops  quite  as  much  from  sorrow  as  from  age.  His 
dress  is  of  the  past  generation — his  huge  collar,  and 
double  cravat  speak  of  olden  time.  His  step  is  slow, 
and  he  looks  seedy  and  worn.  Yet  at  one  time,  he 
was  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  the  country.  His 
name  was  one  of  the  best  known  in  America.  It 
was  honored  at  the  courts  abroad,  and  stood  Ipgh 
among  the  honorable  merchants  of  the  world.  He 
inherited  the  name  and  the  business  of  a  house  that 
through  half  a  century  had  been  unstained.  The  slow 
and  sure  method  of  gain  did  not  suit  him  ;  he  tried  the 
fast  role.  To  keep  it  up,  he  speculated  with  trust 
money  put  into  his  hands.  This  did  not  meet  his 
necessities,  and  he  used  other  peoples'  names  and 
added  embezzlement  and  forgery.  The  game  came  to 
an  end,  as  all  such  transactions  must.  He  fled  between 
two  days,  and  wandered  in  foreign  lands  under  an 
assumed  name.  Widows  and  orphans  were  ruined, 
and  the  innocent  were  dragged  down  in  his  fall.  He 
lived  abroad  as  a  fugitive.  He  found  he  was  not  pur- 
sued. He  grew  bolder,  and  linally  appeared  in  the 
streets  of  New  York.  Nobody  meddled  with  him. 
Some  who  remembered  him  in  other  days  and  pitied 
him,  give  him  a  commission  or  two  to  execute.  He 
skulks  around  through  the  by-ways  and  narrow  lanes 
of  lower  New  York,  like  a  culprit,  where  a  few  years 
ago,  he  trod  the  pavement  like  a  king.  He  has  a  little 
den  of  an  office,  strange  enough,  near  tlie  sjiot  wliere 
Aaron  Burr  planted  himself  at  the  close  of  ]iis  li  A^  and 


266 


Wonders  of  a  Gheat  City. 


tried  to  earn  a  scanty  living,  after  having  flung  away 
the  most  brilliant  prospect  and  repute  that  a  public 
man  ever  possessed. 

THE  CLUB  HOUSES,  AND  HOW  THEY  LIVE  THERE. 

The  fast  men  of  the  street  can  be  found  in  the 
evening,  at  some  one  of  the  many  club  houses  estab- 
lished in  the  upper  part  of  the  city.  These  numerous 
and  growing  institutions  are  very  unlike  the  club 
houses  of  London,  nor  have  they  their  political  sig- 
nificance. In  London,  the  club  houses  have  a  staid- 
ness,  order,  and  aristocracy,  that  mark  the  British 
character  everywhere. 

The  New  York  club  houses  have  the  excitement  of 
the  street  about  them.  They  are  furnished  in  gor- 
geous style.  The  most  costly  viands,  and  the  most 
exciting  and  expensive  liquors  are  furnished.  Fast 
New  York  spend  a  portion  of  their  evenings  amid 
the  fascinations  of  the  club.  Londoners  go  to 
their  clubs  to  discuss  political  matters,  and  decide 
upon  parliamentary  discussions  or  political  agita- 
tions. New  Yorkers  go  to  their  clubs  to  eat 
and  drink  and  be  excited.  A  London  broker 
will  go  up  from  Lombard  street  to  his  club, 
take  a  cosy  corner,  and  dine  upon  a  sober  joint 
with  a  single  glass  of  sherry  or  a  mug  of  ale.  A  New 
York  broker  will  go  to  his  club  and  dine  from  a  bill 
of  fare  that  would  be  considered  sufficient  for  a  court 
dinner  to  crowned  heads,  or  a  banquet  at  the  Lord 
Mayor's  mansion.  An  Englishman  will  sit  down  at  his 
club  with  a  decanter  of  wine  between  himself  and 


Fast  Life. 


267 


friend,  with  the  smallest  and  most  fragile  of  wine 
glasses,  and  will  hold  a  conference  from  one  to  four 
hours,  in  a  low  toned  voice,  discussing  mercantile  and 
other  matters,  and  will  rise  from  the  table  with  that  sin- 
gle glass  of  wine  not  consumed.  If  touched  at  all,  it  will 
be  merely  sipped,  from  time  to  time,  during  the  con- 
versation. A  Nev/  Yorker  will  go  to  his  club  or  hotel, 
with  the  fever  of  business  still  coursing  through  his 
veins,  excited  from  success,  or  maddened  from  losses, 
and  before  he  can  touch  a  mouthful  of  food  will  call 
for  his  bottle  of  champagne,  infuse  into  it  an  efferves- 
cence prepared  for  such  excited  spirits,  and  drain  the 
contents  before  he  touches  his  soup.  It  is  no  m:ir- 
vel  that  such  men  grow  grey  at  forty  ;  that  premature 
baldess  marks  the  business  men  of  New  York;  that 
only  a  few  reach  mature  life,  and  that  many  of  these 
have  paralysis,  the  gout,  and  kindred  disorders  ;  that 
long  lines  of  them  can  be  seen  every  morning — men 
made  to  be  healthy,  and  destined  to  grow  old — tot- 
tling  along  with  canes  to  support  them,  and  with  an 
unsteady  step,  having  burnt  out  their  manhood,  con- 
sumed their  strength,  and  prematurely  impaired  their 
health,  by  the  excesses  of  their  lives.  No  warning  will 
avail,  no  beacons  admonish,  but  each  for  himself  vrill 
strike  his  keel  on  the  sunken  rocks  and  hidden  shelves, 
and  perish  like  a  vessel  stranded  on  the  beach. 

A  young  man  in  this  city  represented  a  New  Eng- 
land house  of  great  wealth  and  high  standing.  He 
was  considered  one  of  the  smartest  and  most  promising 
young  men  in  New  York.  The  balance  in  the  bank 
kept  by  the  house  was  very  large,  and  the  young  man 
used  to  boast  that  he  could  draw  his  check  any  dn}^  for 


268 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


two  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  have  it  honored 
The  New  England  house  used  a  great  deal  of  paper, 
and  it  could  command  the  names  of  the  best  capitalists 
to  any  extent.  One  gentleman,  a  member  of  Con- 
gress, was  reputed  to  be  worth  over  half  a  million  of 
dollars.  He  was  accustomed  to  sign  notes  in  blank  and 
leave  them  with  the  concern,  so  much  confidence  had 
he  in  its  soundness  and  integrity.  Yet,  strange  to  say, 
these  notes,  with  those  of  other  wealthy  men,  with 
nearly  the  whole  financial  business  of  the  house,  were 
in  the  hands  of  the  young  manager  in  New  York,  w^ho, 
with  none  to  check  or  control  him,  did  as  he  pleased 
with  the  funds.  Every  one  thought  him  honest.  Every 
one  confided  in  his  integrity.  All  believed  that  he  was 
doing  the  business  of  the  concern  squarely  and  with 
great  ability. 

In  the  mean  while  he  took  a  turn  at  Harry  Hill's 
"  to  relieve  the  pressure  of  business."  Low  amuse- 
ments, and  the  respectable  company  he  found,  suited 
him.  From  a  spectator  he  became  a  dancer.  From 
dancing  he  took  to  drinking.  From  the  bar  he  entered 
those  paths  to  which  Harry  Hill's  saloon  is  the  entrance. 
He  tried  his  hand  at  light  play.  He  then  went  into 
gaming  heavily,  was  stripped  every  night,  drinking 
deeply  ail  the  while.  He  became  enamoured  with  fancy 
women,  clothed  them  in  silks,  velvets,  and  jewels,  drove 
them  in  dashing  teams  through  Central  Park,  secured 
them  fine  mansions,  and  paid  the  expenses  of  the  estab- 
lishments—  all  this  while  keeping  the  confidence  of 
his  business  associates.  His  wan,  jaded,  and  dissipated 
look  went  to  his  devotion  to  business.  Men  who  met 
him  daily  had  no  idea  that  he  was  bankrupt  in  char- 


Fast  Life. 


acter,  and  had  led  the  great  house  with  which  he  Avas 
connected  to  the  verge  of  ruin.  The  New  England 
manager  of  the  house  was  the  father  of  the  \'oiing 
man.  His  reputation  was  without  a  stain,  and  con- 
fidence in  his  integrity  was  unhmited.  He  had  tht' 
management  of  many  estates,  and  held  large  sums  oi' 
trust  money  in  his  hands  belonging  to  widows  an(- 
orphans.  In  the  midst  of  his  business,  in  apparent 
health,  the  father  dropped  down  dead.  This  brought 
things  to  a  crisis,  and  an  exposure  immediately  fol- 
lowed. The  great  house  was  bankrupt,  and  every- 
body ruined  that  had  anything  to  do  with  it.  Those 
who  supposed  themselves  millionnaires  found  them- 
selves heavily  in  debt.  Widows  and  orphans  lost  their 
all.  Men  suspended  business  on  the  right  hand  and  on 
the  left.  In  gambling,  drinking,  in  female  society,  and 
in  dissipation  generally,  this  young  fellow  squandered 
the  great  sum  of  one  million  four  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  He  carried  down  with  him  hundreds  of  per- 
sons whom  his  vices  and  dissipation  had  ruined.  And 
this  is  but  a  specimen  of  the  reverses  to  which  a  fast 
New  York  life  leads.  He  may  be  seen  any  day  reeling 
about  the  street,  lounging  around  bar-rooms,  or  at- 
tempting to  steady  his  steps  as  he  walks  up  and  down 
the  hotel  entrances  of  the  city.  A  sad  wreck !  a  terribk 
warning ! 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
NEW  YORK'S  BLIGHT. 


THE  ALARMING  PREVALENCE  OF  PROSTITUTION — STATISTICS  OP  THE  LOST 
SISTERHOOD— HOUSES  OP  THE  PIRST  CLASS — HOW  THEY  ARE  FILLED— 
AGENTS  AND  RUNNERS — STARTLING  FACTS — A  NIGHT  ENCOUNTER— 
A  mayor's  EXPERIENCE — HOPELESS  CLASSES —HOUSES  OF  ASSIGNA- 
TION.— WOMEN  ON  THE  PAYE — SAD  SKETCHES. 

rT~l  HE  curse  of  New  York  is  prostitution.  It  caii- 
1  not  he  stamped  out,  tlie  theories  of  moralists 
and  cranks  having  proved  of  no  avail.  Evidence  of 
its  presence  and  growth  can  be  discerned  in  every 
ward,  quarter  and  street  of  the  city.  Women  who 
are*  lost  to  shame,  whose  cheeks  have  long  been 
strangers  to  the  crimson  blush  of  purity,  daily  and 
nightly  parade  the  most  public  and  prominent 
thoroughfares,  while  houses  of  ill-fame  and  assigna- 
tion seem  almost  endless  in  number.  A  few  yeai's 
ago,  Bishop  Simpson  of  the  Methodist  Church,  made 
the  assertion  that  the  prostitutes  of  New  York  were 
as  numerous  as  the  members  of  the  Methodist  Church 
in  that  city.  This  statement  raised  a  howl  of  indig- 
nation. The  Superintendent  of  Police  denied 
the  statement,  and  gave  a  long  array  of  figures 
to  establish  his  stand.  For  a  time  the  controversy 
was  a  heated  one,  and  while  in  tlie  end  Superinten- 
dent Kennedy  won,  the  Bishop's  estimate  was  not  far 


New  York's  Blight. 


271 


out  of  the  way.  Bishop  Simpson  charged  that  the 
number  of  fallen  women  in  the  city  wonld  exceed 
twenty  thousand.  Were  a  correct  census  taken  to- 
day of  this  disreputable  class,  it  is  highly  probable 
that  the  number  calculated  by  the  BishojD  would  be 
found  a  trifle  small.  There  are  about  eleven  hundred 
houses  of  prostitution,  chree  hundred  assignation 
houses,  two  hundred  cheap  lodging  houses  which  ca- 
ter to  such  trade,  a  vast  array  of  concert,  dance- 
hall  and  w^aiter  girls,  and  thousands  of  roomers, 
women  who  take  rooms  in  some  side  street  and  par- 
ade the  principal  streets  in  quest  of  victims.  The 
subject  is  an  unhappy  one,  it  is  terrible  to  contem- 
plate, but  no  picture  of  New  York  life  would  be  com- 
plete did  it  not  include  a  calm  dispassionate  review 
of  this  great  social  blight. 

HOUSES  OF  THE  FIKST  CLASS. 

These  are  few.  No  hotel  is  more  elegantly  fur- 
nished. Quiet,  order,  and  taste  abound.  The  lady 
boarders  in  these  houses  never  walk  the  streets  nor 
solicit  company.  They  are  selected  for  their  beauty, 
grace  and  accomplishments.  They  dress  in  great 
elegance,  and  quite  as  decorously  as  females  gener- 
ally do  at  balls,  parties,  or  at  concerts.  Meet  them  in 
the  streets,  or  at  picture  galleries,  or  at  a  fashionable 
soiree,  and  there  is  nothing  about  them  to  attract  at- 
tention. No  person  who  knows  them  or  their  char- 
acter can  in  anyway  recognize  them  in  public.  These 
women  have  their  pew  in  a  fashionable  church  ;  some 
attend  Sunday  school,  and  have  their  own  religious 
homes.    Everything  about  the  house  is  elegant.  The 


272 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


door  swings  on  well-oiled  hinges.  The  hell  is 
answered  by  a  colored  servant,  and  nearly  all  the 
servants  are  colored.  They  are  quiet,  mind  their  own 
business,  and  are  known  to  be  servants.  All  that 
grace  and  attraction  can  do  to  secure  visits  is  em- 
ployed. None  but  men  who  can  afford  to  pay  a  first- 
class  price  visit  a  first-class  house.  The  woman  who 
is  at  the  head  of  the  establishment  is  one  that  has 
passed  middle  life,  and  is  usually  well  preserved. 
She  bears  some  foreign  name,  and  has  a  person  about 
the  house  that  is  called  her  husband.  It  is  not  un- 
common for  some  so-called  Count,  Baron,  or  Consul, 
from  some  foreign  power,  to  be,  or  pretend  to  be  the 
lawful  guardian  of  the  woman.  If  a  gentleman  calls, 
he  is  at  once  ushered  into  the  parlor.  If  two  gentle- 
men enter  together,  both  are  presented  into  the  par- 
lor. But  no  other  gentleman  can  enter  Avhile  they 
remain.  If  any  one  leaves  the  house  from  up  stairs, 
the  parlor  door  is  shut  and  guarded.  No  one  looks 
out,  and  no  one  looks  in.  Such  are  the  inexorable 
rules  of  the  house.  The  visitor  is  received  by  the 
madam  in  whose  name  the  mansion  is  kept.  One  by 
one  the  lady  boarders  drop  in.  Conversation  becomes 
general  and  spirited.  Some  remarks  are  rather 
broad.  There  is  little  to  dispel  the  illusion  that  one 
is  on  a  call  at  a  first-class  boarding  school  or  seminary. 
As  the  evening  wanes,  and  wine  flows,  the  talk  be- 
comes bolder.  Home,  early  days,  childhood,  mother, 
the  school  of  girlish  hours,  the  Sabbath,  the  Sunday 
school,  the  home  pastor,  their  style  of  life,  what  the 
world  thinks  of  them,  how  absolutely  they  are  cut 
off  from  society,  and  barred  out  as  if  lepers,^ — are 


New  York's  Blight. 


273 


themes  of  conversation.  Some  are  girls  of  superior 
mind.  Some  have  had  fortunes  lavished  on  their  edu- 
cation. Some  can  sing  and  play  exquisitely.  Operas, 
songs,  ballads,  snatches  of  hymns,  are  trolled  off  with 
great  skill.  Many  support  their  parents  in  fine  style. 
Some  have  children  that  were  born  to  them  when 
they  were  happy  wives.  These  children  have  usually 
no  knowledge  of  their  mother's  shame.  They  are  at 
fashionable  boarding-schools,  and  are  brought  up  at 
great  expense,  and  are  told  that  their  mother  is  in  a 
foreign  land,  or  is  married  to  a  man  of  wealth.  Some 
mothers  who  are  supported  by  the  infamy  of  chil- 
dren know,  and  some  do  not  know,  of  the  great 
degradation  of  their  dear  ones. 

THE  KEEPER. 

The  woman  who  keeps  the  house  keeps  also  a  strict 
watch  on  all  her  boarders.  She  knows  who  comes 
aiid  goes,  the  sum  that  is  paid,  and  exacts  of  all  her 
tribute.  What  with  board,  and  dues  paid  for  the 
privilege  of  the  house,  the  costliness  of  the  dress  and 
ornaments  that  must  be  worn,  the  services  of  a  hair- 
dresser, and  cosmetics,  coach  hire,  and  the  dash  and 
display  for  which  many  of  these  girls  have  left 
pleasant  homes,  and  bade  adieu  to  a  virtuous  life, 
and  all  its  honors  and  comforts,  they  have  but  little 
left.  They  lay  up  generally  nothing.  Their  hold  on 
gay  life  is  very  short,  seldom  continuing  more  than 
three  years,  and  some  breaking  down  in  six  months. 
They  then  commence  the  downward  path  of  the  road 
in  which  they  have  entered.  The  next  step  follows — 
poorer  houses,  meaner  dresses,  coarse  fare,  rougher 


274 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


company,  and  stronger  drinks.  Then  comes  street- 
walking,  low  brothels,  concert  saloons,  dance  cellars, 
disease,  Blackwell's  Island,  a  few  months  of  misery, 
and  then  death.  The  petted  and  giddy  creatures,  to 
whom  the  flowery  path  and  seductive  way  is  for  a 
month  or  two  so  fascinating,  cannot  believe  that 
rough  winds  can  ever  blow  upon  them,  or  that  a 
rough  word  can  ever  be  spoken,  or  want  and  sorrow 
can  roll  their  black  surges  over  them.  While  in  their 
l)eauty  and  prime  no  creatures  can  be  more  tenderly 
cared  for.  The  woman  who  is  their  mistress  has 
every  motive  to  treat  them  tenderly.  Their  health 
and  beauty  are  her  capital.  She  makes  merchandise 
of  their  flesh  and  blood.  She  employs  the  best  of 
masters  for  music  and  dances.  The  table  is  loaded 
with  luxuries.  Nothing  is  too  elegant  or  costly.  The 
health  of  the  girls  is  closely  and  anxiously  watched. 
Their  exercise  and  airings  are  carefully  attended  to. 
They  are  kept  cheerful  and  buoyant.  The  deceived 
and  infatuated  creatures  fancy  that  this  will  always 
last.  But  when  sickness  comes,  and  charms  fade; 
when  new^  comers  are  introduced,  and  the  wan  and 
faded  women  are  put  in  contrast,  the  arrow  enters  into 
their  soul ;  when  they  cease  to  be  attractive,  and  call 
visitors  to  the  house  no  more,  the  door  is  opened  and 
they  are  told  to  go.  No  tears,  no  pleas  avail.  Women 
that  are  moved  by  tears  do  not  dwell  under  such  roofs. 
Out  these  poor  girls  go,  without  a  penny.  Almost 
always  they  are  brought  in  debt,  and  so  much  of  their 
finery  as  will  do  for  the  new  comers  is  retained.  For 
the  expelled  there  is  no  redress.  The  pavement  is  her 
home.    The  glare  of  the  druggist's  window  suggests 


New  York's  Blight. 


275 


poison.  The  ripple  of  the  black  Hudson  suggests 
suicide.  Some  one  picks  her  up  on  the  pavement  at 
night,  and  her  low  walk  with  the  low  women  of  her 
class  commences. 

HOW  THEY  AEE  FILLED. 

The  short  life  and  brief  career  of  women  who  fill 
what  are  known  as  first-class  boarding  houses  for 
young  ladies  is  one  of  the  facts  of  which  there  is  no 
dispute.  Officers  whose  duties  take  them  occasionally 
to  these  places,  say  that  once  in  about  two  or  three 
months  the  company  wholly  changes ;  and  when  they 
ask  for  persons  whom  they  saw  on  their  last  visit,  an 
indefinite  answer  is  given,  and  an  unwillingness  mani- 
fested to  tell  what  has  become  of  their  associates. 
Some  feign  reform,  many  die  of  sickness,  by  the  hand 
of  the  criminal  practitioner,  by  suicide ;  many  begin 
the  dark  tramp  down  that  path  that  ends  in  death. 
We  know  from  what  source  comes  the  supply  for  low 
stews,  vile  brothels,  concert  saloons  and  dance  houses ; 
for  where  the  beastly  and  drunken  resort,  multitudes 
can  be  found.  But  from  whence  comes  this  unceasing 
supply  of  brilliant,  well  educated,  accomplished,  at- 
tractive and  beautiful  young  girls  ?  They  are  found, 
as  they  are  wanted,  for  the  houses  of  fashionable  in- 
famy. They  come,  many  of  them,  from  the  best 
homes  in  the  land  ;  from  careful  parentage  and  pious 
families ;  from  fashionable  boarding  schools ;  from 
seminaries  of  learning;  from  Sunday  schools;  from 
the  rural  cottages  of  Maine  and  Vermont;  from 
Chicago,  Eichmond  and  California ;  from  all  parts  of 
the  civilized  world. 


276 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


AGENTS  AND  RUNI^ERS. 

Men  and  women  are  employed  in  this  nefarious 
work  as  really  as  persons  around  the  country  to  hunt 
up  likely  horses ;  £ind  when  the  victim  is  uncommonly 
attractive  the  pay  is  large.  No  system  is  better  ar- 
ranged with  bankers,  expressmen,  runners  and  agents. 
No  place  is  so  distant,  no  town  so  obscure,  that  these 
panderers  do  not  enter  it.  They  are  at  concerts,  on 
the  railroad,  at  theatres,  at  church,  at  fashionable 
resorts  in  the  summer,  and  at  seminary  graduations. 
They  hang  about  hotels,  under  pretence  of  being 
strangers  to  New  York ;  they  get  acquainted  with 
young  lady  visitors,  invite  them  to  church,  to  a  walk, 
to  the  opera,  and,  when  confidence  is  gained,  they 
are  invited  to  call  at  the  house  of  an  acquaintance; 
and,  after  a  pleasant  evening,  they  wake  up  in  the 
morning  to  know  that  they  have  been  drugged  and 
ruined,  and  that  their  parents  are  in  despair.  In 
some  seminaries  of  learning  in  this  city  letters  are 
constantly  exchanged,  signals  swing  out  of  the  blinds 
by  means  of  ribbons  of  different  hues,  and  appoint- 
ments made  and  kept.  If  a  daughter  is  missing  from 
New  York,  or  from  a  radius  of  twenty  miles  around, 
the  police  know  usually  where  to  look  for  the  erring 
child,  if  she  has  not  eloped. 

THRILLING  CASES. 

In  one  of  the  most  attractive  of  these  houses  of  bad 
resort  there  is,  at  this  moment,  a  young  woman  of 
surpassing  beauty.  Her  form  is  queenly.  She  would 
make  a  sensation  in  any  fashionable  soiree  or  watering- 


New  York's  Blight. 


277 


place  in  the  land.  She  dresses  in  elegant  style  and 
with  exquisite  taste.  Her  complexion  is  alabaster : 
her  hair  raven  black,  flowing  in  natural  ringlets.  Her 
voice  is  superb,  and  as  a  singer  she  could  command  a 
large  salary.  On  the  boards  of  a  theatre  she  would 
move  without  a  rival.  Her  accomplishments  are 
varied.  She  can  sing  with  ease  and  skill  the  most 
difficult  music  of  the  best  masters.  She  can  paint 
and  embroider,  and  the  specimens  of  her  skill  are  ex- 
hibited to  her  admirers  at  the  house  where  she 
resides.  She  has  a  finished  education,  and  could  fill 
and  adorn  any  station  in  life.  She  has  a  parentage 
the  most  respected,  who  reside  among  the  noble  of 
New  England.  Their  repute  and  family  honor,  till 
now,  have  been  without  a  stain.  Apparently  happy 
in  her  home,  and  virtuous  and  modest,  she  left  the 
Seminary,  where  she  had  nearly  reached  the  honor  of 
graduation,  and  where  she  was  at  the  head  of  the 
school,  and  one  night  was  not  to  be  found.  Her 
absence  was  the  cause  of  great  distress.  Months 
passed,  and  no  knowledge  of  her  residence  was  ob- 
tained. At  length  the  sad  fact  w^as  revealed  that 
she  was  a  lady  boarder  in  a  house  of  ill  repute  in 
New  York.  When  she  entered  that  abode,  she  reso- 
lutely shut  the  door  in  the  face  of  all  who  knew  and 
loved  her.  Father,  mother,  sister,  friends,  besieged 
the  door  in  vain.  Deaf  to  all  entreaties,  and  hardened 
to  sobs  and  tears,  she  refused  to  look  on  the  face  of 
the  mother  who  bore  her,  and  those  to  whom  she  is 
still  dear.  To  all  she  had  but  one  answer — "Think 
of  me  only  as  one  that  is  dead. "  Yet  she  will  talk  of 
home,  and  dear  ones  of  olden  days ;  will  sigh  and 


278 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


wipe  the  tear  away,  if  any  one  seems  to  have  a  heart 
of  sympathy.  But  the  mystery  of  her  course ;  what 
led  her  to  fling  away  the  great  gifts  God  gave  her ; 
how  she  came  to  know  of  that  way  of  life  ;  what  her 
first  wrong  step  was ;  who  aided  her  in  her  bad  de- 
scent ;  why  she  does  not  fly  from  the  life  she  evidently 
loathes,  and  find  refuge  in  the  home  of  her  child- 
hood, to  her  mother's  arms,  that  are  still  wide  open 
to  receive  her — all  this  is  a  secret  locked  in  her  own 
bosom.  Soon  her  sunny  day-dream  will  close.  The 
bleak  winds  of  winter  will  blow  on  that  form  trained 
to  tenderness  and  reared  in  delicacy,  and  her  feet  will 
stumble  on  the  dark  mountains,  with  no  one  to  help 
or  heed  her  bitter  cry. 

STAETLING  FACTS. 

There  is  another  case  sadder  and  more  mysterious 
than  the  one  just  related.  In  one  of  the  Broadway 
houses  can  be  seen  a  young  lady  about  seventeen,  but 
so  fragile  and  so  girlish  that  she  seems  scarcely  twelve. 
Small  and  genteel  in  figure,  she  appears  only  a  child. 
She  has  a  remarkable  forehead  of  great  breadth,  an 
eye  searching  and  keen,  and  her  smartness  and  talent 
are  marked.  She  is  the  belle  of  the  house,  and  look- 
ing on  her,  one  can  easily  see — what  was  the  fact — 
that  she  was  the  sunshine  of  her  home.  She  belongs 
to  New  York.  Her  father  and  mother  are  persons 
of  rare  intelligence,  of  unquestioned  piety,  and  high 
social  position.  They  are  rich,  and  live  in  good  style. 
On  this  child  they  lavished  the  tenderest  care.  No 
money  was  spared  to  give  her  a  complete  and  polished 
education.    Her  voice  is  superb,  and  her  execution 


New  York's  Blight.  279 


marvelous.  Her  home  was  not  sad  and  hard,  but 
sunny.  She  was  the  mormng  light  and  evening  star 
of  the  fireside  which  she  adorned.  She  was  the 
pride  of  her  parents,  the  ornament  of  the  social  circle 
that  was  proud  to  call  her  companion.  From  her 
youth  she  was  trained  in  the  Scriptures.  At  the 
family  altar  daily  she  was  accustomed  to  kneel,  and 
till  she  left  the  roof  of  her  mother  she  had  attended 
Sunday  school  from  her  childhood.  She  seemed  to 
have  no  sorrow  nor  cause  of  grief.  Her  company 
was  unexceptionable.  No  open  act  of  hers,  and  no 
word  uttered,  betrayed  anything  but  a  virtuous 
heart  and  a  pious  life.  One  afternoon  she  did  not 
come  home  from  Sunday  school  as  usual.  The 
evening  came,  night  rolled  its  heavy  moments  along, 
and  the  darling  came  not.  Agony  laid  the  mother 
on  her  bed,  helpless.  The  father  searched  New  York 
over,  but  the  lost  one  could  not  be  found.  To  the 
suggestion  of  shrewd  detectives,  that  perhaps  she 
would  be  found  in  a  house  of  low  resort,  the  family 
could  only  utter  their  horror.  Like  Jacob,  they  knew 
their  darling  must  be  dead.  Leading  a  life  of  in- 
famy ?  Never  !  With  a  likeness  of  the  missing 
daughter,  and  an  accurate  description,  the  matter-of- 
fact  officers  started  on  their  search.  The  first  house 
they  entered  they  saw  a  young  girl  who  resembled 
the  lost  one.  On  inquiry,  they  found  she  came  to 
the  house  on  Sunday  afternoon ;  told  her  name  ;  said 
she  came  from  a  Sunday  school ;  hung  up  her  bonnet 
and  cloak,  as  if  they  were  to  be  trophies  to  the  god- 
dess of  infamy ;  demanded  and  received  garments 
suited  to  her  new  life ;  and,  coming  fresh  from  the 


280  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Sunday  school,  entered  on  her  career  of  infamy. 
Satisfied  that  the  lost  child  had  been  found,  the  officer 
said  to  the  father,  "Come  and  see  if  this  be  thy 
child  or  no."  With  a  heavy  heart  and  unsteady 
step  the  forlorn  and  bereaved  father  followed  the  de- 
tective. He  shrank  from  the  entrance,  as  if  the 
portals  really  led  to  hell.  The  daughter  met  him  at 
the  door,  flung  her  arms  about  him,  and  gave  him  a 
passionate  kiss.  Then  she  seated  herself,  with  hands 
folded,  head  declined,  and  eyes  fastened  on  the  floor. 
She  heard  aU  that  was  said ;  she  spake  no  word  ; 
made  no  explanation;  confessed  no  act;  revealed  no 
temptation,  and  refused  to  explain  why  she  had 
adopted  her  new  course  of  life.  To  all  entreaties, 
tears  and  prayers,  she  was  indifferent.  Nothing 
could  move  her.  Her  mother  came  to  see  her,  and 
the  girl  threw  herself  on  the  bosom  where  her  head 
had  so  often  lain  in  joy  and  sorrow,  and  in  a  passionate 
burst  of  anguish,  shed  scalding  and  bitter  tears.  To 
all  inquiries  how  she  came  to  that  place,  and  who  led 
her  astray,  she  would  answer  not  a  word.  To  all  en- 
treaties to  come  home,  and  all  should  be  forgotten 
and  forgiven,  she  made  but  one  reply, — "O,  mother, 
it  is  too  late!  too  late!"  But  from  the  house  where 
she  was  she  refused  to  move.  Once  in  a  while  she 
goes  home,  hangs  up  her  hat  and  shawl  on  the  old 
nail,  throws  herself  on  the  bosom  of  her  mother,  and 
weeps  and  sobs.  But  when  the  time  comes  for  her 
to  go,  she  wipes  away  her  tears,  puts  on  her  hat, 
kisses  her  mother  a  good  bye,  and  departs.  Prayers, 
tears,  promises,  offers  of  reward,  all  have  been  used 
in  vain.    In  her  home  of  infamy  she  often  talks  of 


New  York's  Blight. 


281 


her  girlish  days;  of  her  superintendent  and  teacher. 
She  speaks  of  the  church  that  she  attended  as  "our 
church;"  names  the  pastor  with  terms  of  endear- 
ment, and  makes  special  mention  of  the  missionary 
of  the  church,  who  is  still  in  the  field,  to  whom  she 
seemed  to  be  specially  attached.  And  these  are  but 
specimens  of  what  can  be  found  in  New  York. 

VICTIMS  FROM  THE  COUNTRY. 

A  very  large  number  of  the  girls  on  the  town  come 
from  the  country.  Factories  furnish  the  largest 
share,  as  the  statistics  of  i3rostitution  show.  Many 
can  find  no  employment  at  home,  and  seek  this  great 
city  for  something  to  do.  They  have  no  idea  how 
all  ranks  of  labor  are  crowded,  nor  how  hard  it  is  to 
find  respectable  employment ;  how  few  can  be  trusted; 
what  hotbeds  of  temptation  factories  are,  and  places 
Avhere  a  large  number  of  young  girls  find  work. 
Many  are  tempted,  and  fall  in  their  homes.  They 
know  that  there  is  no  mercy  for  them  there.  Their 
mother  and  sisters  will  abandon  them,  and  so  they 
flee  to  a  place  in  which  they  can  hide  in  the  solitude 
of  the  multitude. 

A  NIGHT  ENCOUNTEK. 

Two  gentlemen,  of  the  highest  respectability,  were 
walking  on  Broadway  quite  late  one  night,  and  they 
were  accosted  by  a  young  girl  who  seemed  less  than 
thirteen.  She  was  thinly  clad,  and  was  in  feeble 
health.  The  two  gentlemen  commenced  a  conversa- 
tion with  the  girl,  and  learned  from  her  lips  this 
story.    She  was  from  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  of 


282  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


good  parentage.  Her  father  was  a  farmer,  and  lier 
mother  and  family  stood  high  in  the  town  in  which 
they  lived.  A  young  man  from  the  city  came  to 
pass  the  winter  near  her  home.  Singing  schools  and 
meetings  brought  him  into  her  society.  He  declared 
his  intentions  to  be  honorable,  and  made  proposals 
for  marriage.  Her  parents  knew  little  of  the  young 
man,  and  were  not  friendly  to  his  attentions.  The 
young  lovers  met  in  secret,  and  finally  fled  from  the 
town.  Her  day  dream  of  love  soon  ended,  and,  de- 
serted, she  went  on  the  town.  She  loathed  the  life 
she  led.  But  want  and  starvation  were  on  the  one 
hand,  and  infamy  on  the  other.  She  had  led  her  life 
but  a  few  weeks,  and  had  sought  for  work  and  a 
chance  to  make  an  honest  living,  but  in  vain.  Her 
parents  knew  not  of  her  whereabouts,  nor  did  the 
widow  with  whom  she  boarded  know  that  she  was 
leading  a  life  of  infamy.  She  led  the  gentlemen  to 
the  door  of  a  very  quiet,  respectable  house,  and  told 
them  that  was  her  home.  They  promised  to  call  and 
see  her  the  next  evening,  and  aid  her  to  escape  from 
the  life  she  abhorred.  They  called  at  the  time  pro- 
posed, and  were  conducted  to  the  room  designated. 
It  was  in  complete  order.  By  the  side  of  the  girl 
was  a  small  table,  and  on  a  white  cloth  lay  a  small 
Bible,  the  gift,  she  said,  of  her  mother;  and  she 
stated  that  she  never  lay  down  to  rest  at  night,  till, 
as  in  her  childhood's  happy  home  days,  she  had  read 
a  portion  of  God's  word.  She  talked  calmly  about 
her  position  and  life,  but  it  was  the  calmness  of 
despair,  with  the  tone  of  one  whose  destiny  was 
settled,  and  whose  lot  was  inevitably  fixed.    To  all 


JVew  York's  Blight, 


283 


entreaty,  she  replied,  "It  is  now  too  late.  I  could  not 
endure  the  cold  pity  of  my  mother,  or  the  scorn  of 
my  sisters,  or  the  taunts  of  my  former  associates. 
To  my  bitter  tears  and  burning  confessions  they 
would  give  an  incredulous  ear,  and  among  them  I 
must  ever  walk  a  lost  woman.  I  know  that  my  life 
will  be  a  short  one.  My  health  is  very  poor,  and 
growing  worse  from  day  to  day.  I  am  not  fitted  for 
the  life  I  lead.  I/et  me  alone.  To  all  who  once  loved 
me  I  am  as  one  dead.  I  shall  die  alone,  and  have  a 
pauper's  burial. " 

A  mayoe's  expeeience. 

One  of  the  former  mayors  of  New  York,  a  gentle- 
man of  warm  heart  and  great  benevolence,  had  a  case 
brought  before  him  while  in  office.  It  was  that  of 
quite  a  young  girl,  intelligent  and  well  educated,  and 
not  sixteen  years  of  age.  She  would  not  tell  her 
name,  or  reveal  the  name  of  the  town  in  which  her 
parents  resided.  The  mayor  resolved  to  save  her  if 
he  could.  He  tried  to  persuade  her  to  abandon  her 
life,  get  some  honest  employment,  and  make  a  new 
stand  in  a  virtuous  course.  He  used  all  the  argu- 
ments, reasons,  and  motives  that  he  could  command. 
With  great  coolness  she  replied  to  them  all,  "I  know 
all  you  say — the  deep  degradation  into  which  I  have 
fallen.  But  I  have  no  relief,  no  home,  no  hand  to 
help  me  rise.  I  am  a  good  musician ;  I  am  a  neat 
and  competent  seamstress.  Twice  I  have  gained  a 
situation,  have  resolved  to  amend  my  life,  and  have 
behaved  myself  with  circumspection.  But  in  each 
case  some  one  that  knew  my  former  life  has  told  the 


284 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


story  of  my  past  degraaation,  and  so  hurled  me  back 
to  infamy.  You  have  daughters,  have  you  not  ?"  she 
said  to  the  mavor.  "  I  have,"  was  the  answer. 
"  Will  you  trust  me  as  a  seamstress  in  your  family 
wath  what  you  know  of  me  ?  Would  you  feel  safe 
to  allow  me  to  be  the  companion  of  those  daughters 
after  the  life  I  have  led?"  The  mayor  hesitated. 
With  great  bitterness  and  much  feeling,  she  replied, 
Don't  speak.  I  know  what  you  would  say.  I  don't 
blame'you;  but  if,  with  your  kind,  generous  heart, 
with  your  desire  to  do  me  good  and  save  me,  you 
can't  trust  me,  who  will?"  She  went  out  to  con- 
tinue in  that  way  that  so  soon  ends  in  a  black  and 
hopeless  night. 

HOPELESS  CLASSES. 

Hopeless  indeed  seems  the  condition  of  fallen 
woman.  Men  can  reform ;  society  welcomes  them 
back  to  the  path  of  virtue  ;  a  veil  is  cast  over  their 
conduct,  and  their  vows  of  amendment  are  accepted, 
and  their  promises  to  reform  hailed  with  great  de- 
light. But  alas  for  man's  victims  !  For  them  there 
are  no  calls  to  come  home,  no  sheltering  arm,  no  ac- 
ceptance of  confessions  and  promises  to  amend.  We 
may  call  them  the  hopeless  classes.  For  all  offense 
beside  we  have  hope.  The  drunkard  can  dash  down 
his  cup,  and  the  murderer  repent  on  the  gallows.  But 
for  fallen  woman  there  seems  to  be  no  space  for  re- 
])entance;  for  her  there  is  no  hope  and  no  prayer. 
How  seldom  we  attempt  to  reach  and  rescue  1  and 
for  her  where  is  the  refuge  ? 

Every  form  of  temptation  is  put  in  her  path — hard 


New  York's  Blight, 


285 


and  cruel  homes,  a  serpent  for  a  lover,  no  work,  love 
of  display,  promises  of  marriage,  mock  marriage,  and 
strong  drink.  I  know  a  woman  in  this  city,  who, 
when  a  young  girl,  was  led  from  her  home  in  Massa- 
chusetts by  a  man  whose  name  is  well  known  in  poli- 
tical circles.  He  solemnly  promised  to  marry  her, 
and  I  have  seen  his  written  promise  of  marriage. 
The  parties  came  to  New  York,  and  a  mock  marriage 
was  celebrated ;  and  a  mock  minister  was  called  in, 
and  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  was  used.  The 
parties  passed  as  man  and  wife  for  years,  and  received 
company  as  sucho  The  woman  bore  the  name  of  the 
man  with  whom  she  lived.  Ten  years  passed  away. 
Her  husband  was  a  leading  politician  in  the  land,  and 
began  to  be  much  absent  from  home.  One  day  a 
lawyer  of  eminence  called  on  her,  in  company  with 
a  leading  citizen,  and  told  the  astounded  woman  that 
the  man  with  whom  she  was  living  was  not  her  hus- 
band, that  the  marriage  was  a  mock  one,  that  her 
husband  was  about  to  marry  a  woman  of  fortune  and 
position,  and  would  never  see  her  again,  and  that  they 
had  come  to  make  terms  with  her  and  settle  the 
whole  case.  Frightened  and  alone,  with  no  one  to  rely 
on  or  give  advice,  with  starvation  staring  her  in  the 
face,  she  made  the  best  settlement  she  could.  In  later 
times  she  sought  redress  in  the  courts.  But  the  cun- 
ning deceiver  had  made  it  impossible  to  prove  any 
marriage,  and  her  case  failed.  He  was  worth  a  hand- 
some fortune,  lived  in  grand  style,  and  left  the  poor 
child,  whom  he  took  from  her  father's  home,  and  so 
foully  wronged,  to  eke  out  a  scanty  and  insufficient 


286  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


livelihood  by  selling  books  in  the  streets  of  New 
York. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  now  and  then  ignorant  and 
foolish  girls  and  young  women  voluntarily  adopt  this 
loathsome  life  in  the  expectation  of  bettering  their 
condition.  Inordinate  love  of  dress  and  finery  leads 
many  to  destruction.  Idleness,  laziness,  and  unwil- 
lingness to  work  for  a  living  lure  others  into  the 
paths  of  vice,  where  overwhelming  ruin  is  speedy 
and  certain.  But  while  there  are  those  who  are  ready 
to  tempt  the  innocent,  there  are  also  in  the  city  noble 
men  and  women  who  have  associations,  houses,  and 
sheltering  places  for  the  special  care  of  fallen  women. 
Young  women  have  been  reclaimed  from  this  terrible 
life.  In  some  cases  they  have  been  restored  to  their 
parents  and  homes.  In  other  and  numerous  instances, 
places  have  been  found  for  them  at  the  west,  or  in 
other  parts  of  the  country,  where,  with  their  previous 
record  unknown,  they  could  begin  a  new  and  better 
life.  An  immense  amount  of  good  has  been  done  in 
this  way. 

HOUSES  OF  ASSIGNATION. 

The  number  of  these  places  of  resort  in  the  city 
cannot  be  known.  The  public  houses  are  many,  and 
are  well  known.  But  in  all  parts  of  the  city,  houses 
private  and  public,  are  kept  for  company,  and  most 
of  them  in  the  midst  of  the  fashionable  and  elite  of 
the  city. 

Most  of  these  places  are  known  by  advertisements, 
which  are  well  understood.  A  house  in  upper  New 
York,  in  a  fine  location,  is  selected.    It  is  plainly 


JVeiv  York's  Blight. 


287 


furnished,  or  quite  gaudily,  as  the  style  of  the  house 
may  permit.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  a  down- 
town merchant  to  take  a  house,  furnish  it,  hire  a 
housekeeper,  use  as  many  rooms  as  he  may  wish,  and 
then  allow  the  woman  to  let  out  the  rooms  to  regular 
boarders,  or  nightly,  to  parties  who  may  come  for  an 
evening,  or  who  may  previously  have  engaged  a  room. 
Parties  hire  a  room  by  the  week  or  month,  pay  in  ad- 
vance, and  come  and  go  when  they  please.  "A  widow 
lady,  with  more  rooms  than  she  can  use "rooms  to 
let  to  quiet  persons  "apartments  to  let  where  people 
are  not  inquisitive;"  "rooms  to  let,  with  board  for 
the  lady  only, "  are  of  this  class. 

To  a  stranger  in  the  city,  a  search  for  board  is  quite 
hazardous.  A  family  that  is  not  well  known  may 
not  be  reputable.  One  with  a  wife  and  family  of 
daughters  is  quite  as  likely  to  get  into  a  house  of 
assignation  as  anywhere  else.  No  reputable  lady,  who 
keeps  a  boarding  house,  will  take  a  gentleman  and 
woman  to  board  of  whom  she  knows  nothing.  Par- 
ties must  come  well  recommended,  and  the  fact  of 
marriage  must  be  well  known. 

Cheap  hotels  are  used  for  purposes  of  infamy.  The 
hotels  that  rent  rooms  by  the  day  are  not  particular 
what  relation  parties  sustain  to  each  other,  so  long  as 
the  rent  is  promptly  paid,  and  no  one  disturbs  the 
peace.  One  or  two  houses  up  town,  run  on  the 
European  plan,  became  so  notorious  as  resorts  of  the 
abandoned,  that  they  were  compelled  to  close,  or  en- 
tertain the  lowest  and  most  vile.  First  class  hotel 
keepers  have  quite  as  much  as  they  can  do  to  keep 
their  houses  free  from  this  social  nuisance.    Men  and 


288 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


women  take  rooms,  and  are  registered  as  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  .    The  relation  of  the  parties  maybe  veiled 

for  a  day  or  so  ;  but  the  keen  eyes  of  hotel  men  soon 
detect  the  position  of  the  parties,  and  then  they  are 
packed  off,  be  it  day  or  night.  Without  this  pre- 
caution no  respectable  house  could  be  kept. 

Some  time  since  a  reverend  gentleman  was  at  a 
leading  hotel,  where  he  staid  some  days.  He  was  in 
a  fine  position  in  a  neighboring  city,  and  had  much 
personal  wealth.  He  was  of  the  old  school,  wore  a 
decidedly  clerical  dress — Avhite  cravat  and  black  suit. 
At  the  table,  near  him,  sat  a  well  dressed,  quiet  lady, 
not  more  than  twenty -five  years  of  age.  She  said  but 
little,  was  elegantly  arrayed,  wore  few  ornaments,  and 
those  of  great  value,  indicating  wealth  and  taste. 
She  accepted  the  attentions  the  courteous  clergyman 
bestowed.  She  seemed  to  be  quite  alone,  seldom 
spoke  to  any  one,  made  no  acquaintances,  and  came 
in  and  w^ent  out  unattended.  A  table  acquaintance 
sprang  up.  The  husband  of  the  lady  was  a  mer- 
chant, then  out  of  the  city  on  business,  and  would  be 
back  in  a  few  days ;  the  lady  was  quite  alone ;  knew 
but  few  persons ;  so  strange  to  be  in  a  hotel  alone  in 
a  large  place  like  New  York;  it  was  not  always  safe 
to  make  acquaintances  in  a  city, — so  she  said.  The 
acquaintance  ripened ;  new  attentions  were  proffered 
and  accepted.  The  parties  met  in  the  parlor,  and 
went  together  to  the  public  table.  Soon  the  husband 
came,  and  made  one  of  the  trio.  He  was  a  quiet, 
gentlemanly-looking  man,  dressed  in  a  nice  black  suit ; 
and  his  jewels,  that  shone  from  liis  finger  and  liis 
shirt  bosom,  were  all  that  indicated  that  he  was  not 


New  York's  JB light. 


289 


a  man  of  the  cloth.  He  drank  a  glass  of  wine  with 
the  attentive  doctor,  and  thanked  him  for  the  kind 
and  considerate  attention  his  wife  had  received  from 
his  hands.  One  day,  as  the  parties  sat  at  their  meals, 
quite  cosy  and  chatting,  a  merchant  came  to  dine. 
He  was  well  acquainted  both  with  the  clergyman  and 
^vith  the  mercliant  and  his  wife.  An  interview  was 
soon  had  between  the  new  comer  and  the  divine. 
"  How  long  have  you  been  acquainted  with  those 
parties  you  were  to-day  dining  wath  ? "  said  the  mer- 
chant. "  Only  a  week  or  so."  "  Do  you  know  who 
they  are?"  "  O,  yes;  he  is  a  wealthy  merchant  of 
this  city,  and  the  lady  is  his  wife,  and  a  remarkably 
modest  and  ao:reeable  woman  she  is. "  "  The  man  is 
not  a  merchant.  He  is  one  of  the  most  notorious 
gamblers  in  the  city,  and  the  woman  is  not  his  wife." 
Without  bidding  adieu  to  his  newly-formed  acquaint- 
ances, the  clergyman  paid  his  bill  and  departed,  with 
a  firm  resolution  never  again  to  be  misled  by  appear- 
ances, never  to  form  intimate  associations  with  strange 
men  and  women  at  a  hotel^  and  never  to  be  gallant 
to  a  lady  he  knew  nothing  about. 

In  New^  York,  especially  in  the  fashionable  streets 
and  avenues  up  town,  nobody  is  supposed  to  know 
his  next  door  neighbor,  nor  anything  about  his  busi- 
ness, house,  or  family.  A  house  of  prostitution,  even, 
may  be  so  quietly  and  "respectably"  conducted  as  to 
be  supposed  by  the  nearest  neighbors,  if  they  interest 
themselves  at  all  in  the  matter,  to  be  a  young  ladies' 
private  school,  or  a  fashionable  boarding  house.  The 
character  of  a  house  of  assignation  is  still  less  likely 
to  be  discovered.   No  doubt  many  landlords  let  such 


290 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


houses,  knowing  the  purpose  to  whicli  they  will  be 
devoted,  and  they  charge  an  exorbitant  rent,  which  is 
virtual  blackmail,  requiring  also  that  the  house  shall 
be  so  conducted  as  to  avoid  suspicion.  The  tenant  is 
willing  and  able  to  pay  a  very  high  rent,  as  letting 
single  rooms  at  an  extravagant  rate  and  for  short 
periods,  over  and  over  again,  brings  enormous  returns. 

STREET  WALKERS. 

The  tramps  on  the  sidewalk,  who  annoy  the  passer- 
by, and  dog  the  footsteps  of  men  who  walk  Broad- 
way after  ten  o'clock,  are  mostly  young  girls,  who 
have  an  ostensible  trade  in  which  they  are  employed 
during  the  day.  Many  of  them  are  waiter  girls  in 
low  restaurants,  who  are  known  as  the  Pretty 
Waiter  Girls;"  or  they  work  in  hoop  skirt  factories, 
binderies,  or  in  soilie  place  where  girls  congregate 
together.  Not  all  the  girls  in  saloons  and  concert 
rooms  are  bad.  But  few  remain  long  in  that  connec- 
tion who  do  not  become  so.  The  wages  paid  to  waiter 
girls  vary  from  five  to  fifteen  dollars  a  week.  To 
this  is  added  the  wages  of  infamy. 

The  homes  of  most  of  the  street  girls  are  in  the 
suburbs  of  New  York.  They  come  in  from  Brooklyn, 
Hoboken,  Jersey  City,  Harlem,  and  other  places  easy  i 
of  access,  and  can  be  seen  coming  and  going  night 
and  morning,  and  their  employment  is  as  well  known 
as  that  of  any  trade  in  New  York.  Many  of  them 
are  mere  girls.  Some  have  run  away  from  home, 
and  have  a  place  to  lay  their  heads  on  condition  that 
they  divide  the  spoils  of  the  night.  Some  are 
orphans,  and  take  the  street  to  keep  themselves  out  ^ 


New  York's  Blight. 


291 


of  tlie  almshouse.  Some  have  brutal  or  drunken 
mothers,  who  drive  their  children  into  the  street,  and 
live  in  idleness  and  debauchery  on  the  infamous  wages 
of  their  daughters.  Some  get  coal,  rent,  and  food 
from  the  hands  of  a  child  who  sleeps  all  day  and  is 
out  at  all  night,  and  the  thing  is  too  comfortable  to 
admit  of  much  scrutiny. 

Most  of  these  girls  have  a  room  in  the  city  that 
they  call  their  home,^ — a  small,  plainly  furnished 
sleeping  apartment.  This  room  is  rented  by  the 
week,  and  paid  for  in  advance.  To  this  place  com- 
pany is  taken,  and  the  night  spent.  If  robbery  is 
committed,  as  it  is  frequently,  the  room  is  deserted 
the  next  morning,  and  the  occupant  goes,  no  one 
knows  where.  As  the  rent  is  always  paid  in  advance, 
the  landlord  is  no  loser. 

BED  HOUSES. 

All  over  New  York,  in  parts  high  and  low,  houses 
abound  that  bear  the  designation  of  bed  houses.  A 
location,  fashionable  or  disreputable,  is  selected  ac- 
cording to  the  class  of  custom  that  has  to  be  secured. 
No  one  knows  who  is  at  the  head  of  such  institu- 
tions. Often  landlords  who  are  known  on  'change 
as  reputable  men  fit  up  a  bed  house,  and  hire  some 
hag  to  take  care  of  it.  The  location  is  well  known. 
The  house  is  dark,  and  all  about  it  is  quiet.  If  a 
noise  was  allowed,  the  police  would  step  in  and  shut 
up  the  thing  as  a  nuisance.  One  of  the  most  no- 
torious  houses  of  this  class  has  fifty  rooms.  Some- 
times a  room  is  engaged  in  advance.  But  usually 
parties  come  to  the  house,  enter  the  vestibule,  and 


292 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


wait  the  response  to  the  ring.  A  person  appears  in 
the  dim  light.  But  no  feature  can  be  seen.  If  there 
is  no  room  vacant,  the  quiet,  low  answer  is,  "All 
full. "  If  otherwise,  the  parties  are  admitted.  A  dim 
candle  is  put  into  the  hand  of  a  servant,  and  the 
money  for  the  room  paid  at  once,  and  the  customers 
are  escorted  up  stairs. 

VISITORS. 

No  rooms  are  so  profitable.    A  well  regulated  bed 
house  is  the  most  lucrative  house  in  New  York. 
Women  who  have  tried  to  keep  respectable  boarding 
houses  often  find  "a  gentleman  friend"  who  will 
open  such  a  house,  or  be  a  guarantee  for  the  rent. 
Men  are  found  who  not  only  will  furnish  such  houses  " 
and  take  their  pay  in  installments, but  advertise  so  to 
do.    Into  these  houses  come  the  street  walkers,  who 
find  their  victims  on  and  near  Broadway.    If  the 
girls  have  not  the  money,  their  companions  have. 
Gray  headed  old  men  can  be  seen  wending  their  way 
late  at  night  under  the  lead  of  a  child  scarcely  four- 
teen years  old.    Appointments  are  made  at  saloons  i 
to  meet  at  a  named  house  in  the  night.    Low  theatres,  ' 
low  and  vile  restaurants,  and  dance  cellars  bring  up  [ 
custom.    Women  can  be  seen  going  in  from  nine  to  I 
ten  at  night  with  pitchers,  plates,  and  household  ar-  ' 
tides  in  their  hands.    They  go  to  keep  an  appoint-  j 
ment  previously  made ;  and  they  go  out  from  home  ! 
with  the  articles  in  their  hands  under  pretence  of  * 
buying  something  for  breakfast,  leaving  husband  or  | 
father  asleep  from  toiL    But  more  than  all,  people  . 
come  in  coaches — some,  private  ones.    The  coachman 


New  York's  Blight. 


293 


has  his  eye  teeth  cut.  He  knows  what  is  going  on. 
But  the  mistress  or  master  has  made  it  all  right  with 
him.  From  the  heated  soiree,  where  wine  has  flowed 
in  abundance,  from  the  opera  or  concert,  the  parties 
take  a  ride  in  the  locality  of  a  bed  house,  and  pass 
an  hour  or  so  in  it  before  the  coach  goes  to  the  stable, 
and  the  mistress  or  man  unlocks  the  hall  door  with 
the  pass  key.  From  twelve  to  two,  elegant  coaches 
and  plain  hacks  can  be  seen  before  the  doors  of  these 
lodging  houses,  waiting  for  company — the  women 
deeply  veiled,  the  men  so  wrapped  up  that  recogni- 
tion is  not  common.  Houses  in  low  localities  are 
preferred,  if  clean;  if  in  better  localities,  the  coming 
and  going  of  coaches  would  attract  attention. 
Lodgings  are  cheap,  and  run  from  fifty  cents  to  ten 
dollars.  Parties  remain  all  night  if  they  choose. 
The  doors  are  never  closed.  They  stand  open  night 
and  day.  Knock  when  customers  may,  they  will  find 
a  M^elcome. 

WOMEN  ON  THE  PAVE. 

For  a  half  century  the  streets  running  parallel  to 
Broadway,  on  either  side,  from  Canal  to  Bleecker, 
have  been  the  abode  of  women  who  walk  the  streets. 
In  walk,  manners,  dress,  and  appearance  they  resemble 
the  women  of  their  class,  who,  three  thousand  years 
ago,  plied  their  wretched  trade  under  the  eye  of  Solo- 
mon. About  eight  o'clock  they  come  out  of  their  dens 
to  the  broad  pavement, — up  and  down,  down  and  up, 
leering  at  men,  and  asking  for  company  or  for  help. 
At  eleven  at  night,  when  the  street  is  clear,  and  not  a 
soul  is  to  be  seen,  as  a  man  passes  a  corner,  all  at  once 


294 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


a  flutter  will  be  heard,  and  a  woman  flitting  out  from 
a  side  street,  where  she  has  been  watching  for  her 
victim,  will  seize  a  man  by  the  arm,  and  cry  out, 
"Charlie,  how  are  you?"  or,  "AVhere  are  you  going?" 
If  the  man  stops  for  a  talk,  he  will  probably  follow 
the  woman,  as  an  "ox  goeth  to  the  slaughter."  On 
passing  a  man  on  the  street,  if  the  party  looks  after 
the  woman,  her  keen  sight  detects  the  slight  move, 
and  she  turns  and  follows  the  looker-on.  Some  of 
these  walkers  are  splendidly  educated.  Some  take 
their  flrst  lessons  in  degradation  on  the  pave.  Love 
of  dress  and  fineiy,  unwillingness  to  work,  a  pique  at 
a  lover,  a  miff  at  the  stern  family  arrangement,  are 
causes  enough  to  send  a  young  girl  on  the  street. 

AN  INCIDENT. 

A  gentleman  in  this  city  employs  in  his  factory  a 
large  number  of  females.  He  is  quite  careful  to  get 
respectable  girls.  He  demands  a  written  testimonial 
before  he  will  admit  any  one.  Among  those  at  work 
for  him  were  two  sisters.  They  were  models  of  pro- 
priety and  order.  They  were  neat  in  their  dress. 
Early  and  punctual  they  Avere  at  work.  They  mingled 
but  little  in  society;  were  quite  reser\^edin  their  con- 
versations; said  but  little,  and  kept  constantly  at 
work.  Their  quiet  and  industrious  manners,  silent 
and  resolute  conduct,  living  seemingly  for  each  other, 
and  always  acting  as  if  some  great  secret  weighed 
them  down,  or  bound  them  together,  called  out  the  ,' 
sympathy  of  their  employer.  But  they  resisted  all  j 
sympathy,  refused  to  make  him  their  confidant,  and  j 
asked  only  to  be  left  alone.    They  came  and  went 


JSew  York's  Blight. 


295 


regularly  as  tlie  sun.  One  night  this  gentleman  was 
walking  alone  on  Broadway  quite  late.  As  he  passed 
Houston  street  a  young  girl  accosted  him.  The 
tones  of  her  voice  seemed  familiar.  He  drew  her  to 
the  gas  light.  The  moment  he  did  so  the  girl  gave  a 
scream,  darted  down  the  street,  and  was  out  of  sight 
in  a  moment.  She  was  one  of  the  model  sisters  in 
his  factory.  The  next  morning  the  girls  were  not  in 
their  usual  place,  and  he  saw  them  no  more.  All 
that  he  could  hear  of  them  was,  that  long  before  they 
came  to  his  factory  they  were  on  the  street.  Each 
night  while  in  his  employ  they  followed  street  walk- 
ing as  a  vocation.  All  they  ever  said  about  them- 
selves was  said  to  one  who,  in  the  factory,  had  some- 
what won  upon  their  confidence.  They  refused  to  join 
in  some  pastime  proposed,  and  gave  as  a  reason,  that 
they  had  no  money  to  spend  on  themselves;  they 
were  saving,  they  said,  all  the  money  they  could  get 
to  take  up  the  mortgage  upon  their  father's  farm,  as 
he  was  old  and  feeble.  Filial  love  could  do  no  more 
than  this ! 

The  Eighth  and  Fifteenth  wards  are  crowded  with 
tenement  houses.  Suites  of  rooms,  at  a  low  rent, 
suitable  for  cheap  housekeeping,  can  be  had.  And 
here  the  same  class  of  street  walkers  are  found  when 
at  home. 

HOW  STEEET  WALKERS  APPEAR. 

Girls  new  to  the  business  are  flush  in  health,  well 
dressed,  and  attractive.  They  visit  theatres,  ride  in 
cars,  go  in  omnibuses,  hang  round  the  hotel  doors,  and 
solicit  company  with  their  eyes  and  manner,  rather 


296 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


than  by  their  speech.  This  class  throng  the  watering 
places.  They  travel  up  and  down  the  North  River. 
Two  or  three  of  them  take  a  state  room,  and  move 
round  among  the  passengers  soliciting  company.  This 
custom  became,  the  past  summer,  a  gi'eat  nuisance. 
Lady  passengers  were  annoyed,  l)oth  in  their  state 
rooms  and  out,  with  the  conduct  and  vile  talk  in  the 
rooms  near  them.  Some,  unwilling  to  be  so  annoyed, 
left  their  rooms  and  remained  in  the  saloons  all  nis^ht. 
Broadway  is  not  a  more  noted  place  for  women  of 
this  class  than  are  the  boats  on  the  North  River. 

From  this  grade  the  class  descends  to  mere  ragged, 
bloated,  drunken  dregs,  wdio  offend  all  decency  as 
they  ply  their  trade.  The  second  season  reveals  the 
destructive  power  of  this  mode  of  life.  Pale,  young 
women,  thin  and  wan;  women  who  know  early  wliat 
it  is  to  want  fuel  and  food;  women  scantily  clad,  who 
shiver  as  they  tell  their  tale  and  ask  relief;  women 
Avho  know  that  life  is  brief,  and  the  future  without 
hope — such  persons  compose  the  great  mass  of  street 
walkers.  A  short  life  they  lead,  and  if  their  tale  is 
true,  it  is  not  a  merry  one. 

The  court  room  of  the  Tombs  on  Sunday  morning, 
at  six  o'clock  is  a  suggestive  place.  Children  from 
twelve  to  sixteen;  women  from  sixteen  to  sixty; 
women  on  their  first  debauch,  in  all  their  finery,  and 
tinsel,  and  pride,  with  the  flush  of  beauty  on  their 
cheeks,  with  which  they  hope  to  ^vin  in  the  path  they 
have  chosen,  and  from  whose  faces  the  blush  has  not 
yet  passed  away  forever;  and  persons  in  their  last 
debauch,  without  anything  that  marks  the  woman  left 
to  them, — these  indicate  the  life  and  doom  of  New 
York  street  walkers. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
CLUBS  OF  THE  CITY. 


SOME  OP  TTTE  INSTITUTIONS  WHERE  WEARY  MEN  SEEK  QUIET  AND  RECREA- 
TION—THE  UNION  LEAGUE,  MANHATTAN,  BLOSSOM,  CENTURY,  NEW 
YORK,  UNION,  LOTOS,  COACHING,  ST.  NICHOLAS,  LAMBS  AND  AUTHOR's 
CLUBS  — PET  HOODLUM  ORGANIZATIONS. 


N^EW  YORK  CITY  enjoys  a  variety  of  clubs. 
It  would  really  be  a  difficult  matter  to  enumer. 
ate  them  all,  apart  from  the  consideration  of  space  In 
this  volume;  a  brief  glance  at  the  principal  institu- 
tions of  this  nature,  however,  will  prove  interesting 
to  readers  of  every  class.  The  club  is  an  imported 
feature.  It  has  flourished  in  England  for  centuries 
where  it  is  made  to  serve  the  purpose  of  home  to 
members.  In  this  country  it  is  not  quite  so  stamped 
in  domesticity.  The  club  is  rather  regarded  by  busy 
Americans  as  a  place  where  a  tired  man  can  find 
quiet,  peace  and  recreation  after  the  day's  toil,  pro- 
tected from  the  invasions  of  his  family — a  rather 
neat  way  of  putting  it  on  the  whole.  No  matter  how 
desirous  a  wife  may  be  of  urging  her  claims  for  a 
spring  bonnet,  her  husband  is  safe  from  her  when  he 
crosses  the  portals  of  his  club.  It  is  more  to  him 
than  his  castle,  for  once  within  its  Avails  he  can  even 
defy  his  mother-in-law.  It  is  only  upon  rare  occasions 
that  a  woman  can  obtain  admission  to  her  husband's 


298  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


club,  when  the  annual  reception  or  something  of  like 
nature  is  given,  and  then  she  must  go  under  his  escort. 
Were  she  to  folloAV  him  to  the  club  door,  and  intro- 
ducing herself  demand  an  immediate  audience,  the 
veiy  servant  who  admitted  him  the  moment  before, 
would  unblushingly  affirm  to  the  lady  that  her  hus- 
band was  probably  out  of  the  city,  or  that  at  any 
rate  he  had  not  visited  the  club  for  something  like 
a  month  of  Sundays.  When  a  person  visits  a  club 
and  inquires  for  a  member,  the  doorman  does  not 
know  whether  the  gentleman  sought  is  in  or  out.  He 
takes  the  card,  however,  and  if  the  member  is  in  and 
desires  to  see  the  caller  all  well  and  good,  admittance 
is  then  easy,  but  v/hen  the  card  is  noted,  a  simple 
shake  of  the  hand  is  sufficient  if  he  does  not  wish  to 
see  the  one  without,  and  the  doorman  gravely  returns 
with  the  statement  that  the  gentleman  is  not  in. 

The  cuisine  of  the  Ne^v  York  clubs  is  lirst  class ;  it  is 
as  good  as  anything  to  be  found  in  the  leading  hotels, 
and  is  surpassed  only  by  Delmonico.  The  wine  list 
is  also  good,  and  the  best  of  whiskies  and  brandies 
are  always  on  the  sideboard.  Considerable  difficulty 
is  encountered  when  one,  unless  he  be  famous,  seeks 
to  become  a  member  of  some  of  the  more  prominent 
clubs.  Initiation  fee  and  annual  dues  range  all  the 
way  from  two  to  five  hundred  dollars,  and  then  they 
are  always  full,  and  the  names  of  dozens  of  appli- 
cants are  always  on  the  list.  Some  of  them  again 
you  can  scarcely  enter  without  being  importuned  to 
be  a  candidate.  Indeed,  those  to  which  outsiders 
have  ready  access  need  to  increase  their  list,  and  an 
invitation  may  not  be  altogether  disinterested.  The 


Olubs  of  the  City. 


299 


St.  Nicholas,  New  York,  Manhattan,  and  Lotos  are 
usually  very  willing  to  accept  a  few  more  of  a  suit- 
able kind,  and  there  is  no  trouble  commonly  in  being 
elected.  But  at  the  clubs  that  are  invariably  full  the 
chances  are  against  almost  any  man  not  of  special 
distinction,  and  therefore  desirable.  The  danger  is 
not  so  much  of  being  blackballed,  which  is  uncommon, 
as  of  being  dropped,  which  cannot  be  other  than  very 
mortifying  to  any  sensitive  person.  Usually  there  is 
a  committee  on  admissions,  and  nearly  ever  member 
of  the  committee — in  cases  where  vacancies  are  infre- 
quent— has  a  friend  he  is  anxious  to  get  in.  Hence, 
a  candidate  not  known  to  and  desired  by  some  of  the 
committee  has  no  prospect  of  election,  whatever  his 
estimable  or  clubbable  qualities.  The  committee  are 
naturally  anxious  to  get  rid  of  the  names  that  pre- 
cede those  of  their  friends,  and  employ  every  device 
to  do  so.  Honorable,  likable  men  are  passed  over  so 
often  that  they  seem  objectionable,  and  after  a  certain 
time  are  dropped,  without  any  thought  of  discrimina- 
tion against  them,  so  that  the  committee's  friends 
may  be  taken  up.  The  candidate,  of  course,  knows 
nothing  of  this  inner  working ;  he  innocently  sup- 
poses that  he  stands  on  his  merits  or  demerits.  He  is 
told  that  he  has  been  dropped,  no  reason  being 
assigned,  and  his  pride  is  deeply  hurt,  though  some 
careless  associate  may  have  urged  him  to  be  put  up, 
assuring  him  of  the  certainty  of  election.  Nothing  is 
more  uncertain. 

POLITICAL  CLUBS. 

The  political  clubs  are  the  Union  League,  Manhat- 
tan and  Blossom.  They  are  known  to  all  public  men. 


300  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


The  Union  League  is  Republican  and  the  Manhattan 
Democratic.  The  Blossom  is  almost  exclusively 
given  over  to  Tammany  men.  The  first  named  has 
long  enjoyed  distinction  in  the  field  of  statesman- 
ship. It  first  gained  power  during  the  war,  when 
such  men  as  Thurlow  Weed,  Horace  Greeley,  Henry 
J.  Raymond,  Hugh  Hastings,  A.  B.  Cornell,  Roscoe 
Conkling,  William  M.  Evarts,  J ohn  Bigelow,  William 
M.  Smythe  and  millionaire  Morton  were  towers  of 
strength.  Titles  for  this  group  are  not  required. 
They  had  much  to  do  with  shaping  the  destinies  of 
the  country.  Later  on,  in  its  Twenty-sixth  Street 
home,  it  paid  more  attention  to  local  politics.  Many 
a  slate  was  prepared  by  its  members  and  sent  through 
successfully,  and  again  many  a  machine  deal  was 
thwarted.  The  Union  League  Club  always  stood 
upon  an  elevated  plane.  It  is  now  situated  in  Thii-ty 
ninth  street. 

The  Manhattan  Club  is  on  the  corner  of  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Fifteenth  street.  For  the  past  quarter 
of  a  century  it  has  borne  the  name  of  every  dis- 
tinguished national  Democrat  upon  its  rolls  from 
Tilden  to  Governor  Hill,  from  Douglass  to  Randall ; 
and  its  reception  to  Seymour,  Bayard,  McClellan, 
Hendricks  and  Thurman  are  events  long  to  be  remem- 
bered. The  only  time  the  club  was  ever  lacking  in 
hearty,  loyal  recognition  of  a  guest  was  Avhen  it  ten- 
dered President  Cleveland  a  reception  immediately 
following  his  election  to  the  White  House.  His 
demeanor  was  so  chilly,  so  studiedly  freezing,  that 
the  members  could  not  relieve  themselves  from  a 
feeling  of  oppression  and  awe.    Rumor  has  it  that 


Clubs  of  the  City. 


301 


after  the  mugwump  guest  had  departed,  the  Jeffer- 
sonian  members  of  the  club  assembled  around  a  table 
where  nothing  but  Bourbon  was  permitted  to  flow, 
and  drank  John  Kelly's  health  until  morning,  voting 
him  a  better  Democrat  and  a  wiser  one,  in  his  opposi- 
tion to  Cleveland,  than  they. 

The  Blossom  Club  is  at  Twenty-third  and  Broad- 
wa}^  Since  the  death  of  John  Kelly,  Augustus 
Schell  and  Sidney  P.  Nicholls,  it  is  falling  into 
decay.  The  New  York  Club  is  at  Twenty-sixth 
street  and  Fifth  Avenue;  the  Century  at  Twenty-first 
street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  while  the  Union  is  down  at 
Twentieth  and  Fifth  Avenue.  Now  for  a  description 
of  the  less  widely  known  clubs,  beginning  with  the 
Lotos. 

THE  LOTOS  CLUB. 

The  Lotos  is  one  of  the  clubs  that  saved  its  life  by 
getting  into  Fifth  Avenue.  It  was  formed  sixteen  or 
seventeen  years  ago,  and  occupied  for  its  first  home 
a  house  in  Irving  Place,  adjoining  the  Academy  of 
Music.  Largely  composed  originally  of  journalists, 
it  understood  the  value  of  advertising  and  employed 
it  to  advantage.  It  was  the  first,  I  think,  to  have 
Saturday  nights,  with  music,  recitations,  etc.,  for  the 
introduction  of  which  fiendish  custom  an  awful  retri- 
bution cannot  be  much  longer  delayed.  Many  of  its 
members  were  turbulent,  unscrupulous,  irresponsible, 
so  that  internal  discords  and  unpaid  bills  accumu- 
lated until  most  of  them  were  expelled.  After  it 
had  been  purified  it  became  financially  weak,  the  dis- 
missed members  having  circulated  such  damaging 


302 


WONDEES  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


falsehoods  about  it  as  to  prevent  members  from  join- 
iiig=  It  still  appeared  prosperous;  but  the  directors 
knew  that  it  required  for  self-preservation  a  radical 
change,  a  waw  environment.  They  found  that  they 
could  lease  a  house  in  the  Avenue,  and  they  deter- 
mined to  take  it.  The  ex])eriment  was  worth  trying. 
They  might  not  flourish  there,  but  they  would  cer- 
tainly die  if  they  remained  in  Irving  place.  In 
addition  to  moving,  they  decided  to  be  less  exacting 
as  to  membership.  They  had  formerly  claimed  to 
be,  in  a  sense,  artistic,  having  a  large  proportion  of 
the  members  artists,  actors,  authors,  or  journalists. 
These,  on  the  whole,  had  proved  so  troublesome  that 
they  arrived  at  the  opinion  that  business  men,  if  less 
intellectual  and  scholarly,  would  be  more  tractable 
as  well  as  prompter  in  payment.  The  Lotos,  though 
still  assuming  to  be  mentally  superior  to  most  social 
organizations,  is  now  full  of  brokers,  merchants, 
accountants  and  salesmen.  It  is,  in  consequence, 
prosperous;  it  is  out  of  debt,  and  its  limit — five  hun- 
dred— is  nearly  full,  though  its  initiation  is  now  $200 
and  its  annual  dues  are  $75. 

The  club  continues  to  advertise  itself  by  giving 
dinners  to  every  man  of  any  prominence  it  can  secure, 
by  ladies'  days,  picture  shoAvs,  and  Saturday  nights. 
All  its  social  and  festive  occasions  are  fully  noticed 
in  the  newspapers,  reporters  being  always  cordially 
welcomed  and  seductively  treated.  Individual  Lotus- 
eaters  are  very  fond  of  seeing  themselves  in  print, 
and  they  are  fully  gratified  by  the  complaisance  of 
tlie  luess.  Cliauncey  ]\r.  Depew,  General  Horace 
Porter,  AVhitelaw  Keid  (the  president),  Fred.  E. 


Clubs  of  the  City, 


303 


Coiidert,  and  other  members  invariably  speak  at  din- 
ners, and  their  remarks  are  invariably  printed,  so 
that  belonging  to  the  Lotos  is  a  tickler  to  their 
vanity,  easily  Avorth  the  small  price  of  $75  a  year. 
The  general  impression,  particularly  out  of  town,  is 
that  the  Lotos  is  crowded  with  orators  and  wits; 
that  you  cannot  jostle  any  man  there  dozing  over  a 
newspaper  without  freeing  his  mind  of  a  store  of 
brilliant  epigrams.  Such  is  the  fallacious  effect  of 
ingenious  and  persistent  advertising.  The  plain  truth 
is,  that  the  club  ordinarily  is  as  dull  and  dreaiy  as 
such  bodies  generally  are.  It  is  bright  only  at  stated 
intervals,  and  then  in  spots,  merely,  after  ample 
study  and  rehearsal.  Many  men  who  have  joined 
it  with  fond  anticipations  have  been  cruelly  disil- 
lusioned. It  is  a  kind  of  prosaic  marriage  after  a 
poetic  courtship. 

THE  COACHING  CLUB. 

Tlie  Coaching  Club  is  necessarily  small  and  neces- 
sarily luxurious.  Only  twenty  coaches  with  their 
owners  belong  to  the  organization,  and  the  expense 
of  keeping  a  coach  is  so  great  that  no  one  without  a 
fortune  would  attempt  it.  A  m.an  should  have  an  in- 
come of  $50,000  to  $60,000  at  least  to  warrant  him 
in  joining  the  club,  and  few  men,  comparatively, 
possess  any  such  means,  even  in  New  York.  The 
number  of  coaches  is  limited  to  tvv^enty-five,  and  not 
more  than  fourteen  or  fifteen  appear  at  the  annual 
spring  parade,  always  witnessed  by  a  throng  of  peo- 
ple, who  may  be  curious  to  see  men  that  can  afEord 
to  pay  so  much  for  an  idle  fancy. 


304 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


There  are,  I  tliliik,  about  seventy  or  eighty  mem- 
bers, as  three  or  four  persons  may  be,  and  often  are, 
jointly  interested  in  a  coach.  As  an  example,  August 
Belmont  and  two  or  three  of  his  sons  belong,  so  that 
some  one  of  the  young  men  may  be  on  the  box  when 
their  father  has  more  serious  business  to  occupy  him. 
He  is  an  enthusiastic  whip,  however,  and  enjoys 
driving  a  four-in-hand  despite  his  accumulation  of 
years.  Col.  William  Jay,  son  of  the  Hon.  John  Jay 
— that  is  his  whole  history — is  president  of  the  club, 
and  Frederick  Bronson,  secretary.  Very  few  of  the 
younger  members  amount  to  anything.  They  are 
mostly  rich,  and  nothing  else.  They  do  no  business, 
and  are  apt  to  boast  of  this,  though  they  would  not 
have  the  capacity  to  earn  their  own  living  if  it  were 
the  humblest.  It  gratifies  their  vanity  to  be  "gentle- 
man coachmen,"  because  it  advertises  their  wealth, 
than  w^hich  nothing,  to  their  narrow  minds,  can  be 
better.  Driving  coach  is  not  a  very  lofty  or  ennobling 
employment,  even  when  done  in  the  most  pecunious 
manner,  but  it  may  be  well  that  a  brainless,  charac- 
terless fellow  should  do  that  skillfully,  than  lead  a 
life  of  absolute  idleness.  Coaching,  healthful  physi- 
cally, if  not  mentally,  requires  a  vast  deal  of  leisure, 
which  the  majority  of  the  members  are  abundantly 
able  to  give  it.  It  has  been  adopted  from  the 
leisurely  privileged  class  of  England,  generally  lords 
or  lordlings,  who,  in  order  to  revive  an  old  custom, 
drive,  during  the  season,  from  London  to  Brighton  or 
Oxford,  or  some  other  point  near  the  metropolis, 
taking  the  regular  fare,  like  any  other  coachmen, 
fi-om  such  passengers  as  may  apply.    The  thing  is 


Clubs  of  the  City. 


305 


rather  absurd  and  artificial  there,  and  quite  as  much 
so  here.  The  drives  here  are  usually  to  Pelham, 
Larchmont,  or  Tuxedo  Park,  the  passengers,  always 
friends  of  the  members,  engaging  their  places  so  long 
beforehand,  that  there  is  no  chance  for  outsiders  who 
might  like  to  take  the  air  in  that  agreeable  way. 
The  handsome  coaches,  with  their  fine  horses  and 
daintily  dressed  ladies,  seen,  as  they  intend  to  be,  to 
full  advantage  on  their  lofty  perches  outside,  look 
very  gay  and  festive  as  they  roll  along  in  the  soft 
sunshine  to  the  tooting  of  the  horn.  They  invariably 
attract  attention,  and  awaken  admiration  in  the 
streets  and  along  the  country  high  roads.  The 
club's  headquarters  are  in  Fifth  Avenue  near  Thir- 
tieth Street,  but  they  set  out  from  the  Hotel  Bruns- 
wick, where  they  have  their  breakfasts,  luncheons 
and  dinners  in  town.  The  Coaching  Club  is  not 
particularly  useful,  but  it  is  ornamental,  adding  to 
the  decorative  features  of  the  daily  pageantry  of  the 
metropolis. 

UNIVEKSITY  AJSTD  LAMBS. 

The  University  club,  Henry  H.  Anderson,  presi- 
dent, is  one  of  the  very  few  clubs  that,  having  been 
in  Fifth  avenue,  has  voluntarily  moved  out  of  it.  The 
general  tendency  is  exactly  the  other  way,  the 
avenue  being  regarded  by  clubs  as  the  promised  land 
from  which  dis-solution  alone  expels  them.  The  re- 
moval to  Madison  square  is  strong  evidence  of  the 
University's  faith  in  its  financial  condition  and  in  its 
future.  It  might  have  staid  where  it  was,  at  Fifth 
avenue  and  Thirty-fifth  street  (the  New  York  club 


306  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


has  lately  bought  the  building  and  will  occupy  it  after 
many  alterations),  if  the  rent  asked  had  not  been  so 
exorbitant  as  to  be  prohibitory.  It  pays  an  enormous 
price  for  its  present  quarters — formerly  the  Union 
League — but  as  they  have  chambers  and  a  theater 
that  bring  in  a  revenue  the  directors  find  the  well- 
arranged  house  less  unreasonable  than  it  seems.  The 
club  was  formed  about  the  beginning  of  the  civil  war, 
and  in  that  exciting  time  so  languished  that  it  was 
decided  to  keep  the  charter  alive  by  periodic  meet- 
ings and  await  the  return  of  peace  for  its  develop- 
ment. The  idea  was  auspicious.  Tlie  club  was  revived 
four  or  five  years  ago  and  with  immediate  success. 
Its  list.  I  learn,  is  now  full — 600 — with  many  appli- 
cants for  admission.    The  initiation  and  annual  dues 
are  $200  and  $100.    To  be  eligible  one  must  have  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.  B.  from  some  recognized  uni- 
versity or  college,  and  as  graduates  are  so  common 
nowadays  in  every  part  of  the  country  the  club  will 
have  no  lack  of  material  to  keep  it  fulL    The  mem- 
bers have  some  common  ground  to  stand  on,  and  some 
topic  of  reciprocal  interest,  which  is  more  than  may 
be   said  of  the   majority  of  such  organizations. 
Academic  education  is  of  little  practical  or  even  of 
decorative  advantage,  as  those  best  know  who  have 
received  it.    Only  those  who,  as  a  rule,  have  been  de- 
prived of  it  consider  it  of  importance.    We  always 
overrate  what  we  have  missed,  because  imagination 
paints  glowingly  the  blank  in  our  experience,  which 
might  have  been  nearly  a  blank  after  our  experience. 

The  Lambs,  who  meet  in  East  Twenty-sixth  street, 
are  not,  as  might  be  inferred,  the  guileless  victims  of 


Clubs  of  the  City, 


307 


Wall  street  operators,  but  a  confederation  of  actors. 
The  slieplierd  is  Lester  Wallack,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  renowned  of  his  profession,  and  his  flock 
have  many  a  good  time  in  their  rooms,  where  they 
give  quaint  reminiscences,  and  tell  comical  stories 
illustrative  of  their  exjoerience.  No  one  not  in  some 
way  connected  with  the  theater  is  eligible  to  member- 
ship ;  but  external  barbarians  are  often  invited  to  the 
entertainments.  Late  suppers  and  Sunday  dinners — 
Sunday  being  the  only  leisure  day  for  actors — are 
frequent,  and  invariably  pleasant.  Players  make  a 
jolly  company  around  the  festal  board,  entering  into 
the  spirit  of  the  occasion  with  extraordinary  zest. 
They  are  averse  to  set  speeches — the  bane  of  convi- 
viality— but  their  easy,  informal  talks  are  full  of 
freshness  and  interest.  I  have  heard  worn  men  of 
the  world  say  that  they  have  had  more  genuine  plea- 
sure in  a  single  evening,  or  rather  night — for  their 
evening  does  not  begin  until  12  o'clock — with  the 
Lambs  than  they  could  have  had  in  a  dozen  evenings 
spent  at  the  regular  clubs. 

Another  similar  organization  is  the  Elks,  of  which 
Antonio  (Tony)  Pastor,  so  long  identified  with  variety 
shows,  is  the  leading  light.  It  is  wholly  inferior  in 
assumption  and  tone  to  the  Lambs,  as  may  be  judged 
by  the  professional  and  social  standing  of  the  two 
men  at  their  head,  who  accurately  represent  the  char- 
acter of  the  similarly  dissimilar  associations. 

A  SAMPLE  HOODLUM  CLUB. 

But  there  is  still  another  class  of  clubs  in  New  York 
which  only  seem  to  flourish  on  Manhattan  Island. 


308  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

They  are  assemblies  of  young  toiiglis  who  range  in 
age  from  sixteen  to  twenty-two  years.  Almost  every 
police  precinct,  and  at  least  every  ward,  boasts  one. 
They  are  perfect  hot  houses  for  sin  and  debauchery. 
Gaudy  names  are  sported  by  some  of  the  associations 
of  this  ilk.  For  instance,  the  Fourth  Ward  has  its 
"White  Roses,"  "Original  Hounds"  and  "Twilight 
Coterie,"  while  the  Sixth  Ward  can  boast  of  "The 
Gentlemen's  Sons"  and  "Straight-backs."  The  origin 
and  growth  of  such  assemblies  are  all  pretty  much 
alike,  except  in  political  seasons.  Then  some  poli- 
tician becomes  the  patron  saint,  and  is  bled  liberally 
by  the  club  bearing  his  name.  Last  fall  the  "  Dead 
Rabbits"  of  East  Houston  street  were  transformed  in 
one  Sunday  afternoon  to  the  "  Henry  George  Legion," 
and  on  turning  out  the  following  Tuesday  evening 
mystified  the  police  as  to  their  identity.  The  young 
men  quite  frequently  name  their  associations  in  honor 
of  the  alderman  of  their  Ward.  Such  action  usually 
secures  a  $25  contribution  from  the  person  thus 
honored.  These  clubs  as  a  rale  spring  from  the  street 
corners,  and  are  composed  in  the  main  of  hoodlums, 
toughs  and  guttersnipes  of  the  masculine  gender. 
For  the  first  few  months  a  tough  club  enjoys  no  hall. 
Its  members  meet  of  evenings  and  Sundays  on  the 
street  corners  around  grocery  and  cigar  stores.  An 
assessment  of  a  couple  of  pennies  per  head  is  levied 
for  beer,  and  an  old  bucket  or  can  is  brought  into 
requisition  and  made  to  do  duty  as  a  "growler." 
The  beverage  is  purchased  and  the  youngsters  make 
merry  over  it  drinking,  telling  vile  stories,  cracking 
obscene  jokes,  and  making  indecent  and  vulgar  com- 


Clubs  of  the  City. 


309 


ment  upon  respectable  passing  pedestrians.  It  seems 
their  especial  license  to  insult  women  wlio  look  as 
though  they  were  not  tenement  house  products. 
After  a  time  the  club  grows  in  strength  and  im- 
portance, numerically  speaking,  until  it  is  deemed 
the  proper  thing  to  hire  a  hall.  A  room  over  the 
corner  saloon  or  cigar  store  is  rented  for  a  few  dol- 
lars a  month,  and  then  the  club  is  in  clover.  It 
elects  a  regular  set  of  officers — a  president,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  I  remember  the  "  White  Roses,"  three 
dozen  strong,  of  a  few  years  ago,  quite  well.  They 
used  to  meet  over  a  cigar  shop  in  the  New  Bowery, 
within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  Oak  Street  Police 
Station.  Saturday  nights  were  their  regular  meet- 
ing nights.  Owing  to  the  adjacency  of  a  beer  saloon, 
and  the  subvention  of  the  cigar  man's  small  boys, 
gallons  of  beer  were  run  up  the  side  stairs.  They 
smoked  until  all  was  blue,  drank  until  all  were 
drunk,  and  frequently  fought  until  the  police  came 
and  made  a  hasty  bouquet  of  the  Roses.  Then,  in 
honor  bound,  those  members  who  were  not  present 
during  the  melee,  or  wdio  escaped,  devoted  Sunday 
morning  to  raking  up  enough  money  to  pay  the  fines 
of  those  in  quod.  This  accomplished,  a  grand  halle- 
lujah meeting  of  the  Roses  would  be  held  in  the 
afternoon  at  which  the  beer  would  flow  like  water. 

What  did  these  young  men  do?  What  is  the 
occupation  of  the  hoodlum  generally — the  one  who 
manages  to  wear  new  clothes,  red  neck-ties,  and  carry 
a  cane?  Some  are  light  porters,  and  others  tend  in 
the  stores  in  the  ward.  Some  drive  a  butcher's  cart 
or  an  express  van,  and  some  are  so  very  shady  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  tell  what  their  walk  in  life  is. 


310  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Gloom  rests  upon  it  until  some  fine  morning  the 
whisper  goes  abroad  among  the  "  Roses"  or  the 
"  Hawthornes, "  or  the  "  Gentlemen's  Sons, "  as  the 
ease  may  be,  that  Sniekey,  or  Ginger,  or  Bottles,  has 
been  "  snatched"  by  the  police  for  burglary  and  sent 
to  Sing  Sing.  The  president  speaks  as  soiTowfully 
over  their  companion's  fate  as  if  he  had  lost  his 
mother.  A  visiting  committee  is  appointed  and 
money  put  up  to  buy  the  exiles  tobacco. 

But  to  hasten  to  the  withering  of  the  Roses  of  that 
year  (they  bloomed  again  the  next,  and  are  probably 
hearty  this  season).  One  Saturday  night  the  club 
was  drunker  than  usual,  for  the  meeting  was  an  im- 
portant one.  The  president  rapped  and  rapped  with 
his  gavel,  but  they  would  not  come  to  order.  Two 
divisions  of  the  association  were  striving  for  the 
mastery,  and  at  last,  seeing  that  it  could  not  be 
settled  according  to  the  rules  of  Cushing's  Manual, 
or  any  other  work  on  parliamentary  proceedings, 
they  pitched  into  each  other  in  real  Tipper ary  style. 
Chaos,  confusion  and  riot  reigned  supreme  in  about 
a  minute.  The  president  began  to  knock  the  members 
down  with  the  gavel,  and  would  have  gone  through 
the  entire  roll  of  membership  in  that  manner  had  not 
some  one  knocked  him  down  with  a  baseball  bat. 
The  financial  secretary  was  danced  on;  the  treasurer 
lost  part  of  an  ear,  while  the  mishaps  to  individual 
members  were  past  narrating. 

The  breaking  of  glass  and  smashing  of  furniture 
announced  to  the  cigar  man  below  that  the  "Roses" 
were  having  a  monkey  and  parrot  time,  and  he  con- 
cluded to  send  for  the  police.    The  police  came,  saw 


Clubs  of  the  City. 


311 


and  conquered.  The  Roses  fought  at  first,  but  the 
municipal  weapon  won.  All  the  officers  were  walked 
to  the  station  house  except  the  president,  who,  on  ac- 
count of  his  position,  and  because  he  was  the  only 
one  hit  with  a  pitcher,  was  put  into  a  cab.  There 
was  no  defense  made  to  the  charge  of  disorderly  con- 
duct, and  no  Rose  made  any  complaint  against  an- 
other. So  all  that  could  be  done  was  to  fine  them 
$10  each.  The  treasurer  shelled  out  the  nucleus  of 
the  fund  intended  for  the  spree  that  had  caused  the 
disturbance,  and  by  contributions,  which  were  swelled 
by  some  of  the  aristocratic  members  sending  out 
rings  and  watches  to  the  "hock  shop"  by  the  door 
man,  the  entire  amount  was  raised,  and  the  battered 
band  departed.  The  cigar  man  brought  a  suit  for 
damages  to  furniture  against  the  club,  which  fact  in 
itself,  perhaps,  had  a  good  deal  to  do  with  the  mem- 
bers not  coming  together  as  a  regular  body  any  more 
that  season.  They  contented  themselves  with  board- 
ing the  excursion  barges  of  other  associations,  thrash- 
ing the  bar  keeper,  drinking  all  the  beer,  and  scaring 
the  women  and  children  to  death ;  but  beyond  this 
they  did  not  indulge  in  any  pastime  of  a  social  nature. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


NEW  YEAE'S  DAY  IN  NEW  YORK. 


ITS  ANTIQUITY. — THE  PREPARATION. — THE  TABLE. — THE  DRESS  OP  THE 
LADIES.— THE  RECEPTION.— NEW  YEAR's  NIGHT. 


EW  YORK  without  New  Year's  would  belike 


JL  >j  Rome  without  Christmas.  It  is  peculiarly 
Dutch,  and  is  about  the  only  institution  which  has 
survived  the  wreck  of  old  New  York.  Christmas 
came  in  with  Churchmen,  Thanksgiving  with  the 
Yankees,  but  New  Year's  came  with  the  first  Dutch- 
man that  set  his  foot  on  the  Island  of  Manhattan.  It 
is  a  domestic  festivity,  in  which  sons  and  daughters, 
spiced  rums  and  the  old  drinks  of  Holland,  blend. 
The  long-stemmed  pipe  is  smoked,  and  the  house  is 
full  of  tobacco.  With  the  genuine  Knickerbockers, 
New  Year's  commences  with  the  going  down  of  the 
sun  on  the  last  day  of  the  year.  Families  have  the 
frolic  to  themselves.  Gaiety,  song,  story,  glee,  rule 
the  hours  till  New  Year's  comes  in,  then  the  saluta- 
tions of  the  season  are  exchanged,  and  the  families 
retire  to  prepare  for  the  callers  of  the  next  day. 
Outsiders,  who  "receive"  or  "call,"  know  nothing  of 
the  exhilaration  and  exuberant  mirth  which  marks 
New  Year's  eve  among  Dutchmen. 


J^EW YEAR'S  Day. 


313 


THE  PREPARATION. 

The  day  is  better  kept  than  the  Sabbath.  The 
Jews,  Germans,  and  foreigners  unite  with  the  natives 
in  this  festival.  Trade  closes,  the  press  is  suspended, 
the  doctor  and  apothecary  enjoy  the  day, — the  only 
day  of  leisure  during  the  year.  It  is  the  day  of 
social  atonement.  Neglected  social  duties  are  i:)er- 
f ormed ;  acquaintances  are  kept  up  ;  a  whole  year's 
neglect  is  wiped  out  by  a  proper  call  on  New  Year's. 
All  classes  and  conditions  of  men  have  the  run  of 
fine  dwellings  and  tables  loaded  with  luxury.  Wine 
flows  free  as  the  Croton,  and  costly  liquors  are  to 
be  had  for  the  taking.  Elegant  ladies,  in  their  most 
gorgeous  and  costly  attire,  welcome  all  comers,  and 
press  the  bottle,  with  their  most  winning  smile,  upon 
the  visitor,  and  urge  him  to  fill  himself  wdth  the 
good  things.  The  preparation  is  a  toilsome  and  an 
I  expensive  thing.  To  receive  bears  heavily  on  the 
lady ;  to  do  it  in  first-class  style  draws  heavily  on 
the  family  purse.  A  general  house-cleaning,  turning 
everything  topsy-turvy,  begins  the  operation.  New 
furniture,  carpets,  curtains,  constitute  an  upper-ten 
reception.  No  lady  receives  in  style  in  any  portion 
of  any  dress  that  she  has  ever  worn  before,  so  the 
establishment  is  littered  with  dressmaking  from 
basement  to  attic.  This,  Avith  baking,  brewing,  and 
roasting,  keeps  the  whole  house  in  a  stir. 

THE  TABLE. 

Great  rivalry  exists  among  people  of  style  about 
the  table — how  it  shall  be  set,  the  plate  to  cover  it, 
the  expense,  and  many  other  considerations  that  make 


314  Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


the  table  the  pride  and  plague  of  the  season.  To 
set  well  a  New  Year's  table  requires  taste,  patience, 
tact,  and  cash.  It  must  contain  ample  provision  for 
a  hundred  men.  It  must  be  loaded  down  with  all 
the  luxuries  of  the  season,  served  up  in  the  most 
costly  and  elegant  style.  Turkey,  chickens,  and 
game ;  cake,  fruits,  and  oysters ;  lemonade,  cofEee, 
and  whiskey ;  brandy,  wines,  and — more  than  all,  and 
above  all — punch.  This  mysterious  beverage  is  a 
New  York  institution.  To  make  it  is  a  trade  that 
few  understand.  Men  go  from  house  to  house,  on  an 
engagement,  to  fill  the  punch  bowl.  Lemons,  rum, 
cordials,  honey,  and  mysterious  mixtures  from  mys- 
terious bottles  brought  by  the  compounder,  enter  into 
this  drink.  So  delicious  is  it  that  for  a  man  to  be 
drunk  on  New  Year's  day  from  punch  is  not  consid- 
ered any  disgrace. 

DEESS  OF  THE  LADIES. 

This  is  the  most  vexatious  and  troublesome  of  all 
the  preparations  for  New  Year's.  Taste  and  genius 
exhaust  themselves  in  producing  something  fit  to  be 
worn.  The  mothers  and  daughters  quarrel.  Feathers, 
low-necked  dresses,  and  gorgeous  jewelry  the  matron 
takes  to  herself.  The  daughters  are  not  to  be  shown 
off  as  country  cousins,  or  sisters  of  the  youthful 
mother,  and  intend  to  take  care  of  their  own  array. 
The  contest  goes  on  step  by  step,  mingled  with  tears 
of  spite  and  sharp  repartee  till  midnight ;  nor  does 
the  trouble  then  end.  Few  persons  can  be  trusted 
to  arrange  the  hair.  Some  persons  keep  an  artist  in  I 
the  family.    Those  who  do  not,  depend  upon  a  fash-  • 


Newyeaws  Day. 


315 


ionable  hair  dresser,  wto,  on  New  Year's,  literally 
has  his  hands  full.  Engagements  run  along  for 
weeks,  beginning  at  the  latest  hour  that  full  dressing 
will  admit.  These  engagements  run  back  to  midnight 
on  New  Year's  eve.  Matron  or  maid  must  take  the 
artist  when  he  calls.  As  the  peal  of  bells  chime  out 
the  Old  Year,  the  doorbell  rings  in  the  hairdresser. 
From  twelve  o'clock  midnight  till  twelve  o'clock 
noon,  New  Year's,  the  lady  with  the  ornamented 
headtop  maintains  her  upright  position,  like  a  sleepy 
traveler  in  a  railroad  car,  because  lying  down  under 
such  circumstances  is  out  of  the  question.  The  mag- 
nificent dresses  of  the  ladies;  diamonds  owned,  or 
hired  for  the  occasion ;  the  newly-furnished  house, 
adorned  at  great  expense ;  the  table  loaded  with 
every  luxury  and  elegance ;  the  ladies  in  their  places ; 
the  colored  servant  at  the  door  in  his  clerical  outfit — 
show  that  all  things  are  ready  for 

THE  EECEPTION. 

The  commonalty  begin  their  calls  about  ten.  The 
elite  do  not  begin  till  noon,  and  wind  up  at  midnight. 
Men  who  keep  carriages  use  them,  the  only  day  in 
the  year  in  which  many  merchants  see  the  inside  of 
their  own  coaches.  Exorbitant  prices  are  charged  for 
hacks.  Twenty-five  dollars  a  day  is  a  common  de- 
mand. Corporations  send  out  immense  wagons,  in 
which  are  placed  bands  of  music,  and  from  ten  to 
twenty  persons  are  drawn  from  place  to  place  to 
make  calls.  The  express  companies  turn  out  in  great 
style.  The  city  is  all  alive  with  men.  It  is  a  rare 
thing  to  see  a  woman  on  the  streets  on  New  Year's 


316  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


day.  It  is  not  genteel,  sometimes  not  safe.  Elegantly 
dressed  men,  are  seen  hurrying  in  all  directions. 
Tliey  walk  singly  and  in  groups.  Most  every  one  has 
a  list  of  calls  in  his  hand.  The  great  boast  is  to 
make  many  calls.  From  fifty  to  a  hundred  and  fifty 
is  considered  a  remarkable  feat.  Men  drive  up  to 
the  curbstone  if  they  are  in  coaches,  or  run  up  the 
steps  if  they  are  on  foot,  give  the  bell  a  jerk,  and 
walk  in.  The  name  of  one  of  the  callers  may  be 
slightly  known.  He  is  attended  by  a  half  a  dozen 
who  are  entirely  unknown  to  the  ladies,  and  whom 
they  will  probably  never  see  again.  A  general  intro- 
duction takes  place ;  the  ladies  bow  and  invite  to  the 
table.  A  glass  of  wine  or  a  mug  of  punch  is  poured 
down  in  haste,  a  few  pickled  oysters — the  dish  of 
dishes  for  New  Year's — are  bolted,  and  then  the  in- 
tellectual entertainment  commences.  "Fine  day" — 
"Beautiful  morning" — "Had  many  calls  ?" — "Oysters 
first  rate" — "Great  institution  this  New  Year's" — 
"Can't  stay  but  a  moment" — "Fifty  calls  to  make" — 
"Another  glass  of  punch  ?"^ — "Don't  care  if  I  do" — 
"Good  morning."  And  this  entertaining  conversation 
is  repeated  from  house  to  house  by  those  who  call, 
till  the  doors  are  closed  on  business.  8(3anding  on 
Murray  Hill,  and  looking  down  Fifth  avenue,  with 
its  sidewalks  crowded  with  finely  dressed  men,  its 
street  thronged  with  the  gayest  and  most  sumptuous 
equipages  the  city  can  boast,  the  whole  looks  like  a 
carnival. 

KEW  YEAK's  night. 

The  drunkenness  and  debauchery  of  a  New  Year's 
in  this  city  is  a  disgrace  to  the  people.    As  night  ap- 


JVewyear's  Day, 


317 


proaches,  callers  rust  Into  houses  where  the  lights 
are  brilliant,  calling  for  strong  drinks,  while  their 
flushed  cheeks,  swollen  tongues,  and  unsteady  gait 
tell  what  whisky  and  punch  have  done  for  them. 
From  dark  till  midnight  the  streets  are  noisy  with 
the  shouts  of  revellers.  Gangs  of  well-dressed  but 
drunken  young  men  fill  the  air  with  glees,  songs, 
oaths  and  ribaldry.  Fair  ladies  blush  as  their  callers 
come  reeling  into  the  room,  too  unsteady  to  walk, 
and  too  drunk  to  be  decent.  Omnibuses  are  filled 
with  shouting  youngsters,  who  cannot  hand  their 
change  to  the  driver,  and  old  fellows  who  do  not 
know  the  street  they  live  on.  Joined  with  the  loud 
laughter,  and  shout,  and  song  of  the  night,  the  dis- 
charge of  pistols,  the  snap  of  crackers,  and  illumina- 
tions from  street  corners,  become  general.  At  mid- 
night the  calls  end;  the  doors  are  closed,  the  gas 
turned  ofp,  the  ladies,  wearied  and  disgusted,  lay 
aside  their  gewgaws,  very  thankful  that  New  Year's 
comes  only  once  in  the  season. 

Since  the  introduction  of  the  District  Telegraph, 
with  its  multitude  of  messengers,  a  large  amount  of 
New  Year's  calling  is  done  by  simply  sending  cards, 
considered  equivalent  to  calls,  by  these  messengers. 
The  day  before  New  Year's,  some  of  the  up  town 
offices  receive  these  envelopes  by  bushels,  and  the 
next  day  duly  distribute  them,  while  the  supposed 
"callers"  are  in  their  rooms  or  at  their  clubs,  smoking 
cigars  and  drinking  their  own  healths. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
CENTRAL  PARK. 


ORIGIN  OP  THE  GREATEST  FREE  PARK  IN  THE  WORLD — HOW  IT  MAY 
BE  REACHED  FROM  THE  BUSINESS  SECTION  OP  THE  CITY — OBJECTS 
OP  UNIVERSAL  INTEREST — THE  MENAGERIE  AND  MUSEUMS — CLEO- 
PATRA's  needle — THE  MALL — GATES  AND  THEIR  TITLES — RIVER- 
SIDE PARK  AND  GENERAL  GRANT's  TOMB. 

IT  is  not  a  little  curious  tliat  tlie  unsurpassed  loca- 
tion of  tlie  Central  P^rk  owes  its  origin  to  a 
quarrel  among  politicians.    It  is  difficult  to  conceive 
of  a  finer  location.    Its  extent,  central  site,  natural 
featui^es,  outlets,  drives,  and  attractions  are  exceeded 
by  no  similar  enclosure  in  the  world.    In  1850,  the 
legislature  of  New  York  entertained  a  bill  for  the  i 
purchase  of  a  piece  of  unimproved  land,  known  as  j 
Jones's  Wood,  for  a  public  park.    The  party  who  in-  ^ 
troduced  the  bill  was  a  senator  fi*om  New  York.    An  i 
alderman  of  the  city  was  his  bitter  opponent.  After 
the  bill  had  passed  locating  the  park  at  Jones's 
Wood,  the  alderman  called  upon  Mr.  Kennedy,  since  | 
General  Superintendent  of  Police,  to  g-et  him  to  unite 
in  defeating  the  purchase.  Mr.  Kennedy  had  thought  ■ 
nothing  of  the  bill.    A  map  was  brought  and  the  | 
site  examined.    The  points  made  by  the  alderman  i 
were,  that  the  senator  who  introduced  the  bill  was  ^ 
interested,  and  would  be  largely  profited  by  the  sale,  i 


Central  Park. 


319 


The  plot  was  on  the  extreme  eastern  side  of  the  city ; 
it  was  small,  scarcely  a  dozen  blocks;  a  thick  popula- 
tion bounded  it  on  the  south,  Harlem  shut  it  in  on 
the  north,  the  East  River  formed  another  boundary, 
;ind  enlargement  was  impossible;  besides,  the  price 
was  enormous. 

While  examining  the  maps,  Mr.  Kennedy  pointed 
out  the  present  site  of  the  park.  It  was  then  one  of 
the  most  abandoned  and  filthy  spots  of  the  city.  It 
Avas  covered  with  shanties,  and  filled  Avith  the  most 
degraded  of  our  population.  The  valleys  reeked 
with  corruption  and  every  possible  abomination.  It 
was  viler  than  a  hog-pen,  and  the  habitation  of 
pestilence.  As  a  place  for  building  it  was  nearly 
worthless,  as  the  grading  of  it  was  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. As  a  site  for  a  public  park,  its  inequalities  of 
hill  and  dale,  its  rocky  promontories,  and  its  variety 
of  surface,  made  it  every  way  desirable.  The  great 
point  of  the  alderman  was  to  defeat  his  political  op- 
ponent and  the  bill  for  the  purchase  of  Jones's  Wood. 
The  eminent  fitness  of  the  new  spot  was  conceded  at 
once.  The  omnipotent  press  joined  in  the  new  move- 
ment. The  proposed  name  of  Central  Park  was  re- 
ceived Avith  acclamation.  The  purchase  of  Jones's 
Wood  was  annulled.  The  bill  for  the  o])ening  of 
Central  Park  passed.  In  1856,  the  purchase  was 
complete,  and  the  work  commenced. 

THE  COMMISSION. 

At  first  the  Central  Park  was  a  corporation  matter. 
The  city  ofiicials  were  so  corrupt  that  the  friends  of 
the  measure  refused  to  put  it  into  the  hands  of  the 
Common   Council.    The  aldermen,  in  city  matters, 


320 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


were  omnipotent.  They  were  county  officers  as  well 
as  city.  If  they  sent  a  bill  to  the  Council,  and  that 
body  refused  to  concur,  the  aldermen  could  meet  as 
a  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  pass  the  bill  that  the 
Council  had  rejected  or  the  Mayor  vetoed.  The 
Legislature  j)ut  the  affairs  of  the  park  into  the  hands 
of  a  Commission,  made  up  of  distinguished  men,  rep- 
resenting .the  great  parties  of  the  city. 

On  receiving  their  appointment,  the  commissioners 
called  a  meeting  of  the  distinguished  citizens  of  New 
York  to  consult  on  the  laying  out  of  the  park. 
"Washington  Irving  took  the  chair.  The  models  of 
Europe  would  not  do  for  New  York.  This  park  was 
not  for  royalty,  for  the  nobility,  nor  the  wealthy;, 
but  for  the  people,  of  all  classes  and  ranks.  Drives, 
public  and  quiet;  roads  for  equestrians  and  for 
pedestrians ;  plots  for  games  and  parades,  for  music 
and  public  receptions,  must  be  secured.  The  main 
features  that  the  park  now  wears  were  adopted  at 
that  meeting. 

HOW  TO  GET  TO  THE  PAEK. 

There  are  several  routes  by  which  Central  Park 
may  be  reached  from  the  lower  portion  of  the  city. 
All  elevated  trains  start  from  the  Battery.  The  Sixth 
Avenue  Elevated  Eailroad  takes  the  visitor  to  the 
entrance  known  as  the  Artist's  Gate,  on  Fifty -ninth 
street;  the  Third  avenue  elevated,  to  the  same 
thoroughfare,  with  a  walk  of  four  blocks  to  the  left; 
from  the  Post  Office,  the  Broadway,  Eighth  Avenue, 
and  other  surface  horse  railroads,  and  also  the  Fifth 
Avenue  stages  (fare  5c.),  which  start  from  the  cor- 


Central  Park. 


321 


ner  of  Eleventli  street,  convey  one  without  change  to 
the  various  park  entrances  on  Fifty-ninth  street. 

On  the  way  up  Fifth  avenue  one  passes  an  almost 
unbroken  series  of  the  handsomest  private  residen- 
ces, churches,  and  other  public  buildings  to  be  found 
in  the  world.  At  Eleventh  street  is  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church;  Fourteenth  street  and  vicinity  is  a 
great  center  of  the  retail  dry  goods  trade,  the  stores 
being  spacious  and  magnificent,  while  the  display  of 
millinery,  fancy  goods,  etc.,  can  be  seen  in  no  other 
city.  On  the  corner  of  Fifteenth  street  is  the  Man- 
/  hattan  Club,  a  great  Democratic  headquarters ;  the 
house  of  August  Belmont  may  be  seen  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Eighteenth  street ;  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Twentieth  street  is  occupied  by  the  Union 
Club,  while  directly  opposite  is  the  Lotos  Club.  The 
South  Dutch  Reforrped  Church  is  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Twenty-first.  At  Twenty-third  street, 
Broadway  crosses  the  avenue. 

The  visitor  has  now  arrived  at  Madison  Square, 
one  of  the  most  attractive  and  striking  features  of 
New  York,  On  the  east  is  Madison  avenue,  the  home 
of  vv'ealth  and  refinement.  Broadway  touches  its 
southwest  corner,  and  Fifth  avenue  forms  its  western 
side.  East  Twenty-third  and  East  Twenty  sixth 
streets  make  its  southern  and  northern  limits.  On 
every  side  may  be  seen  hotels  which  are  palaces,  club 
houses  costly  and  elegant  beyond  description,  and 
churches  and  private  dwellings  of  great  beauty.  The 
famed  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel  stands  on  the  corner  of 
Twenty-third  street,  and  above  it  at  Twenty-fourth 
street  is  the  Albemarle,  while  at  Twenty-fifth  street 


322  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


is  the  Hoffman  House.  Quite  a  curiosity  in  the 
center  of  the  park  is  an  enormously  high  flagstaff, 
on  top  of  which  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  electric 
lights  in  the  world,  and  which  at  night  can  be  seen 
from  almost  anywhere  in  the  city.  In  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  park  is  the  statue  of  Wm.  H.  Seward, 
erected  in  1876.  Madison  Square  is  the  favorite 
haunt  of  the  eccentric  George  Fi'ancis  Train,  who 
may  be  seen  almost  every  day  seated  on  his  favorite 
bench  surrounded  by  children.  At  the  northwest 
corner  is  a  statue  of  Admiral  Farragut,  by  A.  H. 
Gaudens.  In  the  little  square  forming  the  jimction 
of  Broadway,  Fifth  avenue  and  Twenty-fourth  street, 
stands  the  stone  shaft  erected  by  the  city  to  the 
memory  of  General  Worth.  Immediately  behind  it 
is  the  New  York  Club,  Just  beyond,  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Twenty-sixth  street,  is  Delmonico's 
famous  establishment,  while  diagonally  opposite  is 
the  Brunswick  Hotel,  and  the  Victoria  Dutch  Re- 
formed Church  is  on  the  corner  of  West  Twenty- 
ninth  street ;  at  Thirty-fifth  street  is  Christ  Church  ; 
at  the  corner  of  West  Thirty-seventh  street  is  the 
Brick  Presbyterian  Church ;  and  here  the  stage 
climbs  the  gentle  elevation  known  as  Murray  Hill, 
where  may  be  always  seen  an  exhibition  of  the 
wealth  and  luxury  of  the  residents.  Most  of  the 
noted  and  wealthy  families  of  the  city  live  in  this 
locality.  The  two  brick  houses  on  the  west  side, 
between  Thirty-third  and  Thirty-fourth  streets  are 
the  residences  of  the  Astor  family,  while  the  vast 
white  marble  palace,  covered  with  the  most  elaborate 
carvings,  is  Mrs.  A.  T.  Stewart's  house.    On  the  east 


Central  Park. 


323 


side,  at  Thirty-ninth  street,  is  the  Union  League  Club 
House.  The  massive  stone  Groton  Reservoir  skirts 
the  west  side  of  the  avenue  between  Fortieth  and 
Forty-second  streets,  and  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  latter  thoroughfare  is  the  Columbia  Bank.  The 
Jewish  synagogue,  Temple  Emanu-El,  is  at  Forty- 
third  street ;  at  Forty -fourth  street  comes  the  Episco- 
pal Church  of  the  Heavenly  Rest,  and  at  Forty-fifth 
street  the  Universalist  Church  of  which  Dr.  Chapin 
was  formerly  the  pastor.  Filling  the  entire  space 
between  Forty-sixth  and  Forty-seventh  streets  is  the 
justly  celebrated  Windsor  Hotel.  Jay  Gould  resides 
at  No.  579,  opposite.  The  Fifth  Avenue  Dutch  Re- 
formed Church  is  at  Forty -eight  street.  Then  comes 
St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  the  largest  and  finest  edifice 
of  the  kind  in  the  United  States.  Next  comes  the 
Roman  Catholic  Orphan  Asylum,  and  directly  oppo- 
site are  the  residences  of  the  Vanderbilt  family.  On 
the  northwest  corner  of  Fifty -first  street  is  that  of  the 
late  Wm.  H.,  and  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Fifty- 
second  street,  that  of  Wm.  K.  Vanderbilt,  while  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  Fifty-seventh  street  is  the 
residence  of  Cornelius  Vanderbilt.  At  Fifty-third 
street  comes  St.  Thomas'  Episcopal  Church  ;  at  Fifty- 
fourth  street,  the  well  known  St.  Luke's  Hospital ; 
and  at  Fifty-fifth  street  the  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyter- 
ian Church,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  pastor. 

Finally,  at  Fifty -ninth  street,  is  the  spacious  Central 
Park  Plaza. 

INTERESTING  FEATURES. 

The  park  contains  ten  miles  of  carriage  roads, 
eight  of  bridle  paths,  and  twenty-five  of  foot  paths — 


324 


Wonders  of  a  Great  Oity, 


to  all  of  which  additions  are  being  constantly  made. 
Within  its  precincts  are  the  best  roads  for  riding  and 
driving  in  the  country,  while  the  lake  has  for  many 
long  years  been  famed,  not  alone  for  its  beauty  in 
summer,  but  for  the  smoothness  of  its  skating  ice, 
during  the  winter  months.  The  Zoological  Garden, 
and  Menagerie  too,  are  ahvays  open,  both  winter  and 
summer,  together  with  the  various  museums  and  art 
galleries.  The  zoological  department  is  now,  as  it 
has  been  for  the  last  twenty-eight  years,  in  charge  of 
Mr.  W.  A.  Conklin,  who  is  a  corresponding  member 
of  the  London  Zoological  Society,  None  better  could 
be  found  to  fill  this  responsible  position,  as  the  general 
appearance  of  the  department  plainly  shows.  The 
purchase  of  the  land  (although  considered  worthless 
on  account  of  it  being  covered  with  rocks),  together 
with  the  improvements,  has  cost  over  $20,000,000  up 
to  the  present  time,  and  further  expenditures  are 
contemplated  and  in  jDrogress.  Large  and  comfort- 
able open  carriages  will  always  be  found  in  waiting 
at  the  Fifth  and  Eighth  avenue  entrances,  for  the 
convenience  of  those  visitors  who  wish  to  ride  round 
the  grounds.  The  fare  for  the  entire  trip  is  only  25 
cents.  Three  or  four  stops  are  made,  and  the  visitor 
may  leave  the  carriage  in  which  he  started  at  any  one 
of  these,  walk  for  a  shorter  or  longer  distance,  and 
then  continue  his  or  her  ride  in  the  next  carriage 
Av^hich  comes  along.  For  instance,  one  good  plan  is 
to  leave  the  carriage  at  the  Terrace  Bridge  (the 
driver  will  announce  it),  cross  the  lake  in  one  of  the 
many  safe  and  comfortably  fitted  up  boats  which  are 
always  to  be  found  here,  and  after  a  pleasant  torn* 


Central  Park. 


325 


through  what  is  known  as  the  "Kamble,"  visit  the 
Belvedere.  Then  stroll  along  the  elevated  breezy 
paths  around  the  great  reservoirs  to  Mt.  St.  Vincent, 
where  there  is  an  elegantly  furnished  cafe,  and  where 
any  carriage  that  passes  may  be  taken  back  to  the 
Fifth  or  Eighth  avenue  entrances.  Another  pleasant 
trip  is  to  walk  to  the  Terrace,  and  then  take  a  car- 
riage for  Mt.  St.  Vincent,  from  which  place  an  ex- 
ceedingly picturesque  walk  may  be  taken  through 
the  woods  and  up  the  lovely  valley  which  leads  off 
to  the  west  towards  Eighth  avenue,  and  then  through 
the  pine  woods  to  the  Belvedere  and  the  Ramble. 
Crossing  the  lake  again,  another  carriage  may  be 
taken  at  the  Terrace  for  Fifty-ninth  street.  Then 
again,  the  simple  ride  up  and  back — a  distance  of 
about  six  miles — affords  the  visitor  a  view  of  the 
chief  points  of  interest,  and  is  a  most  charming  and 
invigorating  journey.  Although  the  driveways  are 
pretty  well  thronged  in  fine  weather  during  the  whole 
day,  yet  it  is  at  the  latter  portion  of  the  afternoon, 
between  3-30  and  5*00,  that  the  most  costly  and  ele- 
gant equipages  and  turnouts  make  their  appearance. 

A  short  distance  from  the  entrance  at  Fifth  avenue 
and  Fifty-ninth  street,  on  the  right,  is  a  sign  bearing 
the  inscription,  "To  the  Menagerie."  The  first  section 
in  this  department  is  devoted  to  the  monkey  tribe, 
whose  antics  are  both  interesting  and  amusing. 
Chief  among  them  is  "Crowley,"  the  chimpanzee, 
who  narrowly  escaped  death  from  pneumonia  last 
year,  but  who  was  finally  restored  to  health  by  con- 
stant and  careful  nursing  on  the  part  of  his  keeper, 
for  whom  he  has  always  evinced  the  most  tender 


326 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


attachment.  Leaving  the  monkey  house,  on  the 
right  is  a  fine  collection  of  gaily  plumaged  tropical 
birds.  Those  with  vari-colored  beaks  almost  as  large 
as  their  bodies  are  called  toucans.  Cockatoos,  paro- 
quets, etc.,  and  numerous  small  birds  of  diiferent 
varieties  will  also  be  found  there,  where  a  lengthened 
stay  is  not  relished  by  nervous  individuals,  on  account 
of  the  unearthly  screeches  which  salute  their  ears. 
In  a  spacious  enclosure  close  by  are  some  magnificent 
specimens  of  the  now  almost  extinct  North  American 
bison,  or  buffalo,  which  are  well  worth  close  atten- 
tion, as  no  finer  can  be  seen  anywhere.  In  the  next 
compartment  is  an  unequaled  group  of  eagles,  vul- 
tures, and  condors,  perched  upon  the  branches  of 
dead  trees  placed  within  the  wire  fence  that  encloses 
them.  The  eagles,  especially,  are  beautiful  specimens 
of  the  "Bird  of  Freedom,"  and  should  not  be  passed 
by.  Pigeons,  pelicans,  etc.,  fill  the  next  section,  and 
appear  to  be  happy  and  contented  in  their  really 
spacious  and  comfortable  quarters. 

A  little  further  on,  to  the  left,  is  what  may  be 
termed  the  menagerie  proper,  containing,  as  it  does, 
the  lions,  tigers,  leopards,  panthers,  hyenas,  ant- 
eaters,  etc.  The  "king  of  beasts"  is  represented  by 
two  noble-looking  male  specimens  and  two  females. 
The  Bengal  tigers  are  three  in  number,  and  are  the 
finest  specimens  to  be  found  in  America,  while 
leopards,  panthers,  and  hyenas  also  occupy  each  a 
separate  compartment.  Outside  the  menagerie  build- 
ing are  a  number  of  pens,  in  the  first  of  which  are 
located  the  black,  shaggy  and  diminutive  Kerry 
cattle  from  Ireland.    That  curious  looking  animal, 


Central  Park. 


327 


with  long  flowing  beard  and  a  hump  on  its  back,  in 
the  second  compartment,  is  the  sacred  bull  of  the 
Hindoos.  A  herd  of  fifteen  elephants  from  India, 
loaned  by  Barnum  to  the  Park  authorities,  will  prove 
attractive,  as  also  will  the  prairie  dogs'  village,  the 
entrances  to  whose  burrows  may  be  plainly  seen. 
Then  come  the  camels,  one  of  whom,  a  female,  some 
time  ago  gave  birth  to  the  only  young  ever  boi'n  in 
this  country,  it  is  said.  Her  progeny  are  still  alive, 
and  bid  fair  to  be  the  admiration  of  visitors  for 
many  years  to  come.  The  remaining  enclosures  con- 
tain jackals,  fallow  deer,  elks,  and  raccoons,  while 
cranes,  herons,  pelicans,  brightly-plumaged  flamin- 
goes, ducks,  and  other  members  of  the  feathered 
family  maybe  seen  enjoying  themselves  each  in  their 
own  particular  way.  Perched  on  a  slight  eminence 
to  the  right  is  the  cave  of  the  bears,  one  side  of  the 
enclosure  in  Avhich  they  are  confined  being  formed  of 
solid  rock.  In  addition  to  common  brown  and  black 
bears,  a  couple  of  immense  white  Arctic  bears,  for 
whose  comfort  a  large  plunge  bath  has  been  provided, 
are  to  be  seen  here. 

Having  "done"  the  menagerie,  one  may  retrace  his 
steps  to  where  the  same  path  branches  off,  just  under 
three  large  willow  trees.  A  short  distance,  and  there 
is  a  play  ground  for  children ,  turning  to  the  left, 
and  crossing  the  driveway,  and  taking  the  path  to 
the  right,  we  come  to  a  few  stone  steps,  and  then 
enter  a  long  rustic  arbor  or  archway,  at  the  Great 
Circle,  from  which  a  nice  view  may  be  obtained  of 
the  Mall,  and  its  constant  stream  of  pedestrians.  To 
the  right  is  the  Casino,  built  of  stone,  and  fitted  up 


328  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

in  a  most  elegant  manner  as  a  restaurant.  Walking 
back  through  the  arbor  again,  we  reach  the  Terrace, 
which  is,  without  doubt,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  artistic  structures  in  the  wdiole  park.  It  is  built 
of  fine  soft  stone,  covered  with  the  most  intricate 
carvings.  The  central  stairway  goes  down  under  the 
roadway,  while  the  two  side  flights  of  steps  are 
beyond.  All  three,  however,  join  below  at  the  edge 
of  the  lake,  where  there  is  an  immense  bronze  foun- 
tain^— "Bethesda" — representing  the  figure  of  an  angel 
blessing  the  waters.  The  idea  of  the  fountain  was 
suggested  by  the  story  of  the  Pool  of  Bethesda 
(St.  John  V,  2-4).  The  figure  of  an  angel  stands  in 
the  attitude  of  blessing  the  watei-s.  She  bears  in  her 
left  hand  a  bunch  of  lilies,  emblems  of  purity,  and 
wears  across  her  breast  the  "crossed  bands"  of  the 
messenger  angel.  She  seems  to  hover  over,  as  if  just 
alighting,  a  mass  of  rock,  from  which  the  water 
gushes  in  a  natural  manner,  falling  over  the  edge  of 
the  upper  basin,  slightly  veiling,  but  not  concealing, 
four  smaller  figures,  emblematical  of  the  blessings  of 
Temperance,  Purity,  Health  and  Peace. 

The  Belvedere  is  a  tall  tower  built  of  stone,  from 
the  top  of  which  a  most  extensive  view  may  be  had 
of  the  city  and  suburbs.  Looking  south,  the  spires  in 
the  lower  portion  of  the  city  may  be  seen.  To  the 
west  is  the  Hudson  River  and  the  country  beyond, 
while  eastward  may  be  had  glim23ses  of  the  Sound, 
Brooklyn,  and  the  whole  Long  Island  shore.  North- 
ward are  the  two  large  reservoirs,  and  beyond  tliat 
again  is  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  Harlem  and  High 
Bridge.    A  path  alongside  the  road,  to  the  left,  leads 


Central  Par\>:---"A;iij  iylall. 


Central  Park. 


329 


to  the  Common,  where  is  a  large  and  magnificent 
group  of  eagles  in  bronze.  The  "Common, "  sometimes 
denominated  "The  Green,"  is  a  fine  meadow  contain- 
ing sixteen  acres.  A  flock  of  blooded  sheep  is  pastured 
here,  in  charge  of  a  well  trained  and  intelligent 
colley,  or  sheep  dog.  Visitors  are  not  generally 
allowed  to  walk  on  the  grass,  but  on  certain  days, 
usually  Saturdays,  this  place  is  declared  free,  and 
then  thousands  of  young  children  roam  about  at 
their  own  s^veet  will.  On  such  days  signs  are  put  up 
marked  "common,"  and  then  the  grass  land  is  free  to 
every  one.  But  a  shoi't  distance  away  is  the  "Car- 
rousel," so  called,  where  will  be  found  swings,  a 
"merry-go-round,"  and  other  similar  amusements  for 
children. 

The  Mall  is  a  broad  pathway,  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
long,  and  with  a  total  width  of  208  feet.  The  main 
central  walk  is  thirty-flve  feet  wide,  lined  on  each 
side  with  magnificent  shade  trees,  the  rest  of  the 
plateau  being  covered  with  greensward.  Seats  are 
numerous  and  are  placed  as  close  together  as  comfort 
will  allow.  Near  the  head  of  the  Mall,  on  the  west 
side,  is  the  music  pavilion,  an  exceedingly  ornate 
structure  of  the  pagoda  fashion.  Music  is  provided 
here  during  the  summer  season  by  first  class  bands, 
generally  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  afternoons.  The 
statues  to  be  found  here  embrace  the  most  artistic  in 
the  pai'k.  That  of  Shakespeare,  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  Mall,  was  placed  there  in  1872,  on  the  three  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  great  dramatist's  birthday. 
Second  is  a  statue  of  Robert  Burns,  presented  to  the 
city  of  New  York  by  resident  Scotchmen  in  1880. 


330  Won  DEBS  of  a  Great  City. 


Next  is  tlie  figure  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  erected  in 
1871,  and  also  presented  by  resident  Scotch- 
men; further  on  is  that  of  Fitz  Greene  Halleck, 
the  poet,  which  dates  back  to  1877. 

A  sliort  distance  to  the  left  is  the  ideal  figure  of  an 
Indian  hunter  and  his  dog,  tlie  work  of  Mr.  J.  Q.  A. 
Ward.    Then,  also,  there  is  a  bronze  bust  of  Beet- 
hoven, erected  in  1884.    Still  keeping  to  the  right 
hand  patliway,  after  leaving  the  Mall,  skirting  the 
edge  of  the  Ramble,  we  come  to  the  Small  Reser- 
voir.   This  covers  an  area  of  35|-  acres,  and  has  a 
capacity  of  no  less  than  150,000,000  gallons  of  watei*. 
It  is  a1)0ut  11(3  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Upon 
a  slio'ht  eminence  to  the  riofht  is  the  Obelisk,  the 
Needle  of  Cleopatra.    This  most  interesting  ancient 
relic  was  presented  to  the  city,  through  the  Depart- 
ment of  State,  in  1877,  by  the  late  Khedive  of  Egypt. 
The  work  of  removing  this  gigantic  block  to  New 
York  was  entrusted  to  Lieut.-Com.  H.  H.  Gorringe, 
U.  S.  N.,  who  designed  massive  and  novel  machinery 
for  the  purpose.    This  "monolith,"  as  it  is  termed, 
is  the  sixth  in  size  of  all  the  obelisks  of  Egypt.  It 
was  made  at  the  command  of  Tliutmes  III,  the 
brother  and  successor  of  Hatshepu,  the  "woman 
king,"  whose  name  is  borne  on  the  two  great  obelisks 
of  Amen-ru — one  of  which  is  still  standing,  the  other 
being  prostrate.    The  hieroglyphics  on  tlie  sides  of 
the  obelisk  are  all  euloo:istic  of  the  renowned  Thutmes 
III  and  his  successors,  Ramses  and  Usorken  I.  These 
inscriptions,  therefore,  take  us  back  to  a  period  more 
than  1500  years  before  Christ,  and  to  the  Araneaeaii 
age  in  the  history  of  the  Holy  Land,  which  was  iu- 


Central  Fare. 


331 


vadecl  and  conquered  by  Thutnies  III.  Moses  gazed 
upon  this  wonderful  block  of  stone,  whose  origin  was 
almost  lost  amid  the  mists  of  time  when  Augustus 
Caesar  and  Antony  fought  over  Cleopatra.  Lately 
its  surface  has  been  treated  in  a  peculiar  manner  with 
paraffine,  as  a  protection  against  the  weather,  the 
alternate  heat  and  cold  of  our  climate  having  caused 
small  portions  of  the  stone  to  chip  off.  Upon  the 
Eastern  side  of  the  driveway,  almost  directly  op- 
posite the  Obelisk,  is  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of 
Art,  which  is  open  every  week  day.  On  Mondays 
and  Tuesdays  a  charge  of  25  cents  each  person  is 
made  for  admission;  other  days,  free.  The  Museum 
is  still  in  its  infancy,  but  now  rests  upon  a  firm  foun- 
dation, and  will,  in  time,  be  able  to  rank  with  famous 
institutions  of  the  same  nature  in  Europe.  The  first 
acquisition  of  any  importance  was  the  Blodgett  col- 
lection of  pictures,  consisting  mainly  of  examples  of 
Flemish  and  Dutch  masters,  but  also  containing  some 
excellent  specimens  of  French,  Spanish  and  English 
artists.  The  archaeological  collection,  consisting  of 
over  10,000  objects,  gathered  together  by  General  Di 
Cesnola,  U.  S.  Consul,  during  his  residence  in  the 
island  of  Cyprus,  was  next  added.  The  present 
building  was  opened  on  March  30,  1880,  and  forms 
but  a  small  portion  of  the  large  series  of  edifices  it 
is  proposed  to  erect.  The  main  hall  is  109  feet  long 
from  east  to  west,  and  95  feet  wide  from  north  to 
south.  There  are  entrances  at  both  the  east  and  west 
ends,  from  which  stairways  lead  to  the  picture  gal- 
leries on  the  floor  above  and  to  the  balconies.  The 
center  of  the  hall  is  devoted  to  the  exhibition  of 


332  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


loans  and  late  acquisitions,  while  the  space  under  the 
south  balcony  contains  the  terra-cotta  ware  of  the 
Di  Cesnola  collection.  The  smaller  statuary  is  under 
the  north  balcony,  the  large  under  the  east,  and  the 
modern  under  the  western.  Up-stairs  the  small 
southern  gallery  is  hung  with  the  pictures  of  old 
masters,  some  of  which  are  only  lent  to  the  Museum 
trustees;  the  larger  gallery  containing  only  those 
which  are  the  property  of  the  Museum.  The  south 
balcony  contains  the  ancient  Greek  glass,  while  in 
flat  cases  around  the  railing  are  the  various  gold  or- 
naments of  the  Di  Cesnola  collection.  In  the  north 
balcony  is  a  fine  collection  of  oriental  porcelain,  as 
well  as  specimens  of  Japanese  art  and  Egyptian  an- 
tiquities. Among  the  most  valuable  of  the  paintings 
l)elonging  to  the  Museum,  exhibited  in  the  large 
eastern  gallery,  is  the  "Return  of  the  Holy  Family 
from  Egypt,"  by  Rubens.  This  was  painted  for  the 
Church  of  the  Jesuits,  Antwerp.  It  is  on  wood,  was 
originally  arched  at  the  top,  and  Avas  taken  from  the 
church  by  virtue  of  the  decree  of  the  Emperor 
Joseph  II  in  1877,  suppressing  the  Jesuit  order,  and 
confiscating  their  property.  It  is  109  inches  high 
and  70  inches  broad. 

Another  painting  by  Rubens  is  the  "  Lions  Chas- 
ing Deer,"  brought  from  Italy,  where  it  formed  part 
of  Cardinal  Fieschi's  famous  collection.  There  are 
also  two  Van  Dyck's,  one  being  "  St.  Martha  Inter- 
ceding with  God  for  a  Cessation  of  the  Plague  at 
Tarascon,"  which  formerly  belonged  to  the  Royal 
Museum  at  Madrid,  whence  it  was  taken  by  King 
Joseph  Bonaparte  when  he  fled  to  Prance;  the  other 


Central  Park. 


388 


is  a  portrait  of  "  Miss  De  Christyn, "  frota  the  collec- 
tion of  M.  De  Kibancort. 

The  Di  Cesnola  collection  consists  of  articles  of 
all  sorts,  found  in  the  ancient  cities  and  tombs  of 
Cyprus.  The  statues  are  arranged  according  to  their 
style  of  art,  beginning  with  the  early  Egyptian,  and 
ending  with  the  later  Greco-Roman.  The  specimens 
of  terra-cotta,  nearly  4,000  in  number,  consist  largely 
of  vases,  of  which  no  two  ai-e  exactly  alike.  :  The 
collection  of  glassware  numbers  about  1,700  pieces, 
of  both  Phoenician  and  Greek  workmanship.  The 
gold  and  silver  ornaments  were  found  in  the  temple 
at  Curium,  mostly.  Among  other  acquisitions  lately 
made  by  the  Museum  is  a  memorial  to  the  unfortun- 
ate poet,  Edgar  Allan  Poe,  author  of  "The  Raven," 
which  was  presented  by  the  actors  of  New  York. 

The  next  object  of  interest  is  the  Great  Hill,  so 
called.  Here  a  perfect  panorama  lies  stretched  out 
at  the  feet  of  the  visitor,  as  it  were,  not  only  of  the 
Park  itself,  but  of  the  Avhole  country  for  miles 
around.  On  the  very  brow  of  this  bold  outlook  over 
the  Harlem  plains  there  is  still  standing  a  stone 
structure,  which  formed  part  of  a  line  of  fortifica- 
tions erected  here  during  the  war  of  1812.  For  some 
time  it  was  used  for  the  storage  of  gunpowder,  and 
hence  it  is  now  commonly  designated  as  the  Powder 
Magazine.  Returning  southward,  past  the  eastern 
side  of  the  reservoir,  the  next  object  of  interest  deserv- 
ing of  special  comment  is  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  just  outside  the  Park  proper,  at 
Eighth  avenue  and  Seventy-eighth  street,  on  what  is 
known  as  Manhattan  Square. 


334  WONDEBS  OF  A  GREAT  CiTY. 


The  Museum  was  formally  opened  on  December  22, 
1877,  President  Hayes  being  among  those  in  attend- 
ance. Its  style  is  a  modern  Gothic,  the  material  used 
externally  being  red  brick  for  the  walls  and  Maine 
granite  for  the  window  trimmings,  etc.  The  general 
interior  arrangement  is  probably  the  best  that  has  yet 
been  devised  for  the  purpose,  and,  in  fact,  leaves  little 
to  be  desired.  The  various  collections  are  arranged 
in  large  halls,  and,  in  one  instance,  in  a  balcony  run- 
ning around  the  main  hall.  At  each  end  of  these 
halls  is  a  large  vestibule,  containing  stairways  and 
offices  for  the  curator  of  the  department  to  which 
the  floor  is  devoted.  At  present  the  entrance  is  at 
the  southern  end.  Each  hall  is  170  feet  long  by  60 
wide.  The  lowest  story  is  eighteen  feet  high ;  the 
second  or  principal  story,  including  the  balcony, 
thirty  feet ;  the  upper  story  twenty -two  feet,  and  the 
story  in  the  Mansard  roof  sixteen  feet.  4 

The  lower  story,  excepting  several  cases  of  corals, 
reptiles  and  fishes,  is  mainly  devoted  to  mounted 
specimens  of  mammalia.  It  also  contains  the  Jesup 
collection  of  North  American  woods,  prepared  in  a 
most  attractive  and  pleasing  manner,  and  which  have 
not  been  on  exhibition  for  a  very  great  length  of 
time.  The  floor  of  the  second-story  hall  contains  the 
mounted  l)irds,  numbering  somewhere  al)out  ten 
thousand  specimens,  large  and  small,  arranged  in 
their  geogra])hical  ordei'.  The  gallery  is  set  apart  as  an 
archaM)logical  de])artnient,  and  contains  specimens  of 
the  imi)lements  of  the  Pacific  islanders,  S]M?ars  and 
hnices  of  vjii'ions  ]^e()])]e,  carved  A^  ar  clu])s,  Indian 
dresses  and  w  eapons,  stone  axes,  pottery,  etc. — all  in 


Central  Park, 


335 


upright  cases.  Suspended  from  the  ceiling  is  a 
monster  war  canoe,  carved  out  of  one  tree.  In  tlie 
railing  case  is  the  De  Morgan  collection  of  stone  im- 
plements from  the  valley  of  the  Somme  (northern 
France),  and  specimens  from  the  Swiss  lake  dwellings, 
presented  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  L.  Stuart.  There 
is  also  the  Powell  collection  from  British  Columbia, 
presented  by  H.  R.  Bishop,  a  collection  from  Hudson 
Bay,  gathered  by  Professor  Robert  Bell,  presented  by 
Hugh  Auchincloss,  and  several  minor  collections. 
On  the  upper  or  third  floor  is  the  James  Hall  collec- 
tion of  paleontological  and  geological  specimens, 
together  with  other  recent  acquisitions  of  a  similar 
nature.  In  the  desk  cases  in  the  middle  of  the  hall 
is  arranged  what  is  known  as  the  Jay  collection  of 
shells,  presented  by  Miss  C.  L.  Wolfe,  daughter  of 
the  first  president  of  the  museum.  Here,  too,  is  a 
fine  representative  collection  of  minerals  called  the 
"Bailey  Cabinet." 

A  short  but  pleasant  walk  along  the  pathway, 
southward,  soon  brings  the  visitor  within  sight  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment  monument,  a  bronze  figure  of 
a  private  soldier  of  that  command,  modeled  by  J.  Q. 
A.  Ward.  It  was  erected  in  commemoration  of  those 
members  who  fell  in  battle  during  the  late  civil  war. 
It  is  much  admired  as  a  work  of  art,  and  is  con- 
sidered by  many  as  being  one  of  Mr.  Ward's  best 
productions.  The  Prince  of  Wales'  tree  stands  on 
the  right-hand  side  of  the  Grand  Drive,  almost  op- 
posite the  centre  of  the  Mall.  There  were  originally 
two  trees — one  an  English  oak,  and  the  other  an  elm, 
but  only  the  first  mentioned  now  survives.    It  was 

\ 

\ 


336 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


planted  by  the  Prince  of  Wales  during  his  visit  to 
this  country  in  the  fall  of  1860.  During  the  same 
season  in  which  the  Prince  of  Wales  made  his  offer- 
ing, the  Japanese  Embassy,  then  visiting  the  city, 
planted  a  young  cedar  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
of  the  drive,  a  little  further  up.  Unlike  the 
Prince's  oak,  the  Japanese  cedar  did  not  live,  but 
its  place  has  been  supplied  by  another  which  still 
flourishes.  Appended  is  a  list  of  the  various  en- 
trances, or  gates,  as  they  are  called,  together  with 
their  location :  Fifth  avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  street, 
Scholars'  Gate;  Sixth  avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  street, 
Artists'  Gate;  Seventh  avenue  and  Fifty -ninth  street, 
Artisans'  Gate;  Eighth  avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  street. 
Merchants'  Gate;  Fifth  avenue  and  Sixty-seventh 
street,  College  Gate;  Eighth  avenue  and  Seventy- 
second  street.  Woman's  Gate;  Eighth  avenue  and 
Seventy-ninth  street.  Hunters'  Gate;  Eighth  avenue 
and  Eighty-fifth  street,  Mariners'  Gate ;  Eighth  avenue 
and  Ninety-sixth  street.  Gate  of  all  Saints;  Eighth 
avenue  and  One  Hundredth  street,  Boys'  Gate; 
Eighth  avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  street, 
Strangers'  Gate;  Fifth  avenue  and  Seventy-second 
street,  Childrens'  Gate;  Fifth  avenue  and  Seventy- 
ninth  street.  Miners'  Gate;  Fifth  avenue  and 
Ninetieth  street.  Engineers'  Gate;  Fifth  avenue  and 
Ninety-sixth  street.  Woodman's  Gate;  Fifth  avenue 
and  One  Hundred  and  Second  street.  Girls'  Gate; 
Fifth  avenue  and  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  sti'eet, 
Pioneers'  Gate ;  Sixth  avenue  and  One  Hundred  and 
Tenth  street,  Farmers'  Gate;  Seventh  avenue  and  | 
One  Hundred  and  Tenth  street.  Warriors'  Gate. 


Central  Fabk. 


337 


GEISTEBAL  GKANt's  TOMB. 

Just  to  the  nortliwest  of  Central  Park  is  another 
one  of  the  city's  popular  breathing  places.    It  is 
Eiverside  Park,  and  is  made  famous  from  the  fact 
that  it  is  the  bm^ial  place  of  General  U.  S.  Grant. 
The  park  is  a  narrow  and  somewhat  irregular  strip 
of  land  lying  between  Riverside  avenue  and  the  Hud- 
son River.    It  commences  at  Seventy-second  street, 
and  continues  northward  as  far  as  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  street.    The  average  width  from  east  to 
west  is  about  five  hundred  feet,  while  the  entire 
length  is  not  far  from  three  miles.    The  total  area  is 
about  178  acres,  some  portions  of  which  have  already 
been  laid  out  by  the  Department  of  Public  Works. 
The  park  is  considerably  above  the  level  of  the  river, 
and  the  views  from  the  driveway  are  most  striking 
and  picturesque,  giving  every  now  and  then  charm- 
ing glimpses  of  the  tree-covered  park,  long  stretches 
of  the  beautiful  Hudson  River,  the  Palisades,  and 
the  Weehawken  hills  beyond.    It  is  believed,  and 
with  good  reason,  too,  that  the  vicinity  of  Riverside 
Park,  will,  in  time,  become  pre-eminently  the  aristo- 
cratic part  of  New  York.    The  tomb  of  General 
Grant  is  on  a  beautiful  elevation  fronting  the  Hud- 
son River,  and  between  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
Third  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  streets. 
Its  atmosphere,  already  solemn  and  melancholy,  is 
rendered  more  impressive  by  a  detachment  of  soldiers, 
acting  as  a  guard  to  the  tomb.    The  interment  of 
this  distinguished  man  took  place  August  8,  1885. 
His  monument  will  be  completed  in  the  com'se  of  a 
couple  of  years. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE  GAMBLING  HOUSES. 


HANDSOMELY  FUBNISHED  PARLORS  WHERE  THE  TIGER  IS  MORE  RELENT- 
LESS THAN  IN  HIS  NATIVE  JUNGLE. — HOW  SOME  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL 
HOUSES  ARE  ARRANGED.  —  JOHN  MORRISSEY's  CONNECTION  WITH 
GAMBLING. — DAY  AND  NIGHT  GAMES. — THE  PLUCKING  SYSTEM.— 
FEMALE  GAMBLING  HOUSES. — POOL  ROOMS,  POLICY  AND  LOTTERY. 


AMBLING  has  liad  its  ups  and  downs  in  tlie 


V^Jf  metropolis.  It  was  first  introduced  by  camp 
followers  of  the  British  army  during  the  Revolution, 
when  New  York  was  in  the  hands  of  the  red  coats. 
Once  introduced  the  vice  made  itself  at  home,  re- 
mained when  the  British  evacuated  the  city,  and 
soon  became  one  of  the  institutions  of  free  America. 
The  back  rooms  of  Water,  Front  and  West  sti'eet 
"  taverns, "  as  they  wxre  called  four  score  years  ago, 
were  the  principal  scenes  of  play.  It  was  not  until 
about  1825  that  anything  like  regular  out  and  out 
gambling  places  were  introduced.  Then  a  house  near 
the  old  Tontine  at  the  foot  of  Wall  street  was  thrown 
open,  dedicated  to  games  of  chance.  Accommoda- 
tions were  provided  for  persons  desirous  of  hazard- 
ing money  at  cards,  dice  and  checkers.  The  stakes, 
it  is  said,  were  not  large,  and  the  play  while  popular 
was  not  extra  ruinous.  Now  all  is  changed,  and  if  a 
man,  to  descend  into  slang  of  the  day,  owned  the 
earth, "  he  could  easily  lose  it  in  a  night  at  any  of  the 


Gambling  Houses. 


339 


principal  New  York  gambling  hells.  The  police  have 
fought  the  gamblers  for  a  dozen  years.  At  times 
they  succeed  in  closing  a  majority  of  these  dens  of 
infamy,  but  they  do  not  seem  able  to  close  them  all 
or  to  keep  any  of  them  shut  for  an  extended  interval. 
The  better  class  of  gambling  houses  are  on  Broad- 
way, and  Fifth  and  Sixth  avenues  between  Twenty- 
third  and  Thirtieth  streets.  One  of  the  heaviest 
games  of  faro  on  Manhattan  Island,  is  in  nightly 
blast,  only  a  half  dozen  doors  from  fashionable  Grace 
Church.  Three  years  ago  the  police  announced  that 
they  had  closed  for  the  summer  every  gambling  house 
in  the  city.  At  that  time  Grace  Church  was  erecting 
a  new  steeple,  and  the  writer  being  editorially  con- 
nected with  a  New  York  daily  newspaper  published 
a  paragraph  to  the  effect  that  if  the  steeple  fell  it 
would  crash  through  the  roof  of  a  gambling  house 
and  kill  a  dozen  men  at  play.  In  the  course  of  a 
couple  of  days  a  portion  of  the  steeple  did  fall,  but 
as  it  did  not  fall  in  the  direction  of  the  club  house 
in  question,  the  gamesters  escaped.  The  paragraph 
taken  in  connection  with  the  steeple  mishaps,  served, 
however,  to  annoy  the  sporting  fraternity  for  a  time. 

The  first-class  houses  of  to-day  are  superb  in  all 
their  appointments.  A  brown  stone  front  or  a  marble 
building  is  selected,  and  kept  in  grand  style.  The 
door  is  set  off  by  a  broad  silver  plate,  usually  bear- 
ing the  name  of  some  club,  and  rich  heavy  blinds  or 
curtains  at  the  windows  hide  the  inmates  from  prying 
eyes.  If  one  wishes  to  enter  he  rings  the  door  bell. 
This  is  answered  by  a  finely  dressed  colored  doorman, 
for  all  the  servants  are  black.    They  are  trained  to 


340  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


their  duties,  and  are  silent  and  polite.  To  your  salu- 
tation the  doorman,  if  you  are  not  known  to  him  asks 
"  who  do  you  wish  to  see  ?"  You  name  the  proprietor 
or  a  friend,  and  are  at  once  invited  to  the  parlor. 
The  elegance  of  the  establishment  dazzles  you.  The 
doors  are  of  rosewood.  The  most  costly  carpet  that 
can  be  imported  lies  on  the  floor.  MiiTors  of  magni- 
ficent dimensions  extend  from  the  ceiling  to  the  floor. 
No  tawdry  frescoing,  but  costly  paintings  by  the  first 
artists,  adorn  the  walls  and  cover  the  ceiling.  The 
richest  of  gold,  gilt,  and  rosewood  furniture  in  satin 
and  velvet  abound. 

ARRANGEMENT  AND  TABLE. 

The  basement  of  the  house  is  devoted  to  domestic 
labors.    The  front  parlor  is  used  for  dining.  The 
dinner  is  served  at  six  o'clock.    Nothing  in  New 
York  can  equal  the  elegance  of  the  table.  It  is  spread 
with  silver  and  gold  plate,  costly  china  ware,  and 
glass  of  exquisite  cut,  and  the  viands  embrace  all  the 
luxuries  of  the  season  served  up  in  the  richest  style. 
Fruits,  home  and  foreign,  fill  the  sideboard,  and  wines 
and  costly  liquors  are  to  be  had  for  the  asking. 
Among  the  keepers  of  the  first-class  gaming  houses 
there  is  a  constant  rivalry  to  excel  in  the  matter  of 
dinners  and  the  manner  the  table  is  spread.    The  I 
rooms  are  open  to  all  comers.  All  are  welcome  to  the  ! 
table  and  sideboard.    No  questions  are  asked,  no  ! 
price  is  paid,  no  one  is  solicited  to  drink  or  play.    A  • 
man  can  eat,  drink,  look  on,  and  go  away  if  he 
pleases.    Buc  it  must  be  profitable  business,  or  men  i 
who  a  few  years  ago  were  drunken  prize  fighters 
could  not  now  be  millionaires.    A  man  who  does  not  ! 


Gambling  Houses. 


341 


spend  one  dime  in  the  house  can  call  for  the  choicest 
wines,  and  drink  what  he  will,  as  freely  as  the  man 
that  leaves  thousands  at  the  bank. 

These  splendid  suppers  are  only  baits;  and  the 
superb  sideboard,  with  its  fine  li(|Uors,  furnishes 
stimulants  to  play.  There  is  a  feeling,  too,  in  one 
who  eats  and  drinks  these  good  things,  that  he  ought 
to  risk  a  little  money. 

To  the  rear  of  the  dining  room  or  front  parlor  is 
the  principal  gaming  room.  It  will  contain  one  or 
.  more  faro  lay-outs,  owing  to  the  demands  of  the  play, 
and  a  roulette  or  rouge-et-noir  table  The  baccarat 
tables  and  poker  rooms  are  usually  on  the  third  floor. 
Poker  is  so  common  that  "stud"  is  about  the  only 
species  of  this  game  allowed  in  a  first-class  gambling 
house.  It  has  a  regular  dealer,  who  is  always  on  the 
look  out  for  the  house  commission. 

THE  GAME  OF  FARO. 

The  game  of  faro  is  the  most  popular  and  fascinat- 
ing of  all  games  of  chance.  It  is  so  simple  that 
almost  any  person  after  a  brief  visit  to  a  table  be- 
lieves that  he  has  thoroughly  mastered  its  intricacies. 
Here  is  a  brief  description  of  it:  A  complete  pack 
of  fifty-two  cards  is  used.  The  pack  is  placed  in  a 
small  silver  box,  face  upward,  the  uppermost  card 
being  always  public.  Strong  springs  at  the  bottom 
of  the  box  keep  the  cards  pressed  closely  against  the 
surface.  At  the  right  hand  side  of  the  box  is  a 
small  slit  or  aperture  which  permits  of  one  card  being 
pushed  out  at  a  time.  The  box  rests  on  a  table 
and  the  dealer  sits  behind  the  box  and  manipulates 


342 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


the  cards.  In  a  chair  to  the  right  of  the  dealer  sits 
the  look-out,  a  mau  who,  like  the  dealer,  is  employed 
by  the  house.  He  watches  all  bets  placed  to  see 
that  the  house  gets  its  winnings,  and  he  also  settles 
all  disputes  between  the  house  and  players.  On  the 
table  to  the  front  of  the  box  is  spread  the  lay-out. 
This  is  a  representation  of  the  thirteen  different 
suits  in  the  pack,  arranged  in  two  rows,  beginning  at 
the  dealer's  left  hand  with  the  ace  and  ending  at  his 
right  with  the  seven  spot.  Then  the  second  row, 
which  faces  the  players,  comprises  the  eight,  nine, 
ten,  Jack,  Queen  and  King.  A  small  rack  called 
"the  cases"  is  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  table  from 
the  dealer.  It  is  arranged  like  the  lay-out,  and  each 
card  is  represented  by  four  buttons.  Some  person — 
usually  a  player — keeps  the  cases.  When  the  dealer 
draws  a  card  from  the  box,  say  it  be  an  ace,  the  case- 
keeper  will  shove  back  one  of  the  four  buttons  from 
the  ace  in  the  cases.  By  this  agency  the  players  can 
at  any  stage  of  the  game  tell  at  a  glance  how  many 
cards  remain  in  the  box  and  their  denomination. 
The  top  card  is  called  the  soda  card,  as  being  in 
view  it  can  neither  wan  nor  lose.  The  card  directly 
under  it,  the  second  card,  is  the  losing  card,  while 
the  third  one  wins.  Should  two  cards  of  the  same 
suit  come  out  together,  two  kings,  two  queens,  etc., 
the  play  is  called  a  split,  and  the  game  takes  half  of 
the  bets  wagered  by  the  players.  The  play  is  con- 
ducted by  ivory  checks  called  "chips,"  and  their 
color  denominates  their  value.  In  first-class  houses 
white  chips  are  worth  a  dollar  and  a  quarter,  blues 
two  and  a  half,  and  reds  five  dollars  each.  Other 


Gambling  Houses. 


343 


colors  are  also  used,  upon  wliich  the  house  places  its 
own  value;  but  the  ones  enumerated  are  the  popular 
colors.  Twenty  chips  comprise  a  stack.  A  player 
can  bet  all  the  way  from  a  single  chip  or  a  "  split 
chip"  to  the  house  limit,  which  ranges  from  one  to 
five  hundred  dollars,  owing  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
proprietor.  A  player  can  also  back  a  card  to  lose  or 
win,  or  any  combination  of  cards  which  may  attract 
his  fancy.  A  person  wishing  to  play  purchases  some 
chips,  any  quantity  he  may  desire.  If  the  table  is 
not  too  crowded  he  is  given  a  chair.  He  may  com- 
mence at  any  stage  of  the  deal.  If  he  fancies  the  ace 
to  win  he  may  put  as  many  chips  as  he  likes,  not  ex- 
ceeding the  limit  upon  that  card.  Should  he  desire 
it  to  lose  he  "coppers"  it;  i.  e.  places  a  small  black 
button  of  wood  on  the  uppermost  of  his  chips  on  the 
card.  Playing  a  card  open  is  to  win.  If  he  is  play- 
ing the  card  to  win,  and  it  should  be  directly  under- 
neath the  exposed  card,  his  chips  would  be  swept 
away.  Should  the  ace  come  out  third,  he  would  win, 
and  the  dealer  would  place  opposite  his  checks  the 
same  number  of  checks  he  wagered.  Then  the  player 
can  transfer  his  bet  to  another  card,  reduce  it  in  size 
or  quit  the  game  altogether.  He  can  also  play  every 
card  in  the  lay-out  at  the  same  time  if  he  deems  fit. 
At  the  end  of  a  deal,  when  only  three  or  four  cards 
remain  in  the  box,  then  comes  what  is  designated 
"  calling  the  turn. "  If  the  player  succeeds  in  naming 
the  rotation  in  which  the  cards  come  out,  he  is  paid 
four  to  one;  in  other  words,  the  house  bets  him  four 
to  one  he  cannot  call  the  turn. 

Some  play  lightly  ;  they  lose  five  or  ten  dollars  and 


84:4:  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


then  stop.  Many  play  deep,  and  losses  are  heavy. 
From  ten  to  fifty  thousand  dollars  frequently  change 
hands  in  a  night.  Merchants,  small  tradesmen  and 
clerks  often  play  until  they  lose  all,  and  then  put  up 
watches,  jewelry,  pledge  their  salaries  and  incur  debts 
of  honor  that  must  be  paid,  all  through  their  passion 
for  play.  Defalcation,  peculation,  fraud,  theft, 
forgery,  follow  a  visit  to  the  hells  in  high  life.  Re- 
cently one  man  lost  three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
There  is  at  present  a  man  in  this  city  who  "  plays 
system,"  as  it  is  called.  He  has  had  such  a  run  of 
luck  that  he  broke  the  bank  of  one  of  the  first 
houses,  and  carried  away  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars  in  one  night.  All  these  gamblers  are  fast 
men.  They  spend  all  they  win  on  their  vices,  passions, 
or  in  play.  When  they  are  low,  they  visit  the  low 
gaming  dens  of  the  city,  and  if  their  fortune  in  any 
way  changes,  they  hasten  back  and  try  their  luck 
again  in  a  first-class  house.  Many  gamblers  do  not 
lay  up  five  dollars  in  five  years. 

THE  COMPANY. 

None  but  men  who  behave  like  gentlemen  are 
allowed  the  entree  of  the  rooms.    Play  runs  on  by  | 
the  hour,  and  not  a  word  spoken  save  the  low  words  . 
of  the  parties  that  conduct  the  game.    But  for  the  • 
implements  of  gaming  there  is  little  to  distinguish  ' 
the  room  from  a  first-class  club  house.  Gentlemen 
well  known  on  'change  and  in  public  life,  merchants 
of  a  high  grade,  whose  names  adorn  benevolent  and 
charitable  associations,  are  seen  in  these  rooms,  read- 
ing and  talking.    Some  only  drink  a  glass  of  wine. 


Gambling  Houses, 


345 


walk  about,  and  look  on  tte  play  with  apparently  but 
little  curiosity.  The  great  gamblers,  besides  those  of 
the  professional  ring,  are  men  accustomed  to  the  ex- 
citement of  the  Stock  Board.  They  gamble  all  day 
in  Wall  and  Broad  streets,  and  all  night  on  Broad- 
way. To  one  not  accustomed  to  such  a  sight,  it  is 
rather  startling  to  see  men  whose  names  stand  high 
in  church  and  state,  who  are  well  dressed  and  leaders 
of  fashion,  in  these  notable  saloons,  as  if  they  were 
at  home.  The  play  is  usually  from  five  to  twenty- 
five  dollars.  A  stock  of  checks  is  purchased,  and 
these  played  out,  the  respectable  player  quits  the 
table.  But  old  and  young,  men  in  established  busi- 
ness and  mere  boys,  are  seen  night  after  night  yield- 
ing to  the  terrible  fascination  of  play. 

JOHN  moreissey's  house. 

A  few  years  ago  John  Morrissey  was  a  resident  of 
Troy.  He  kept  a  small  drinking  saloon,  of  the  low- 
est character.  It  was  the  resort  of  the  low  prize 
fighters,  gamblers,  thieves,  and  dissolute  persons  of  all 
degrees.  So  low,  and  dissolute,  and  disreputable, 
was  the  place,  that  it  was  closed  by  the  authorities. 
With  other  traits,  Morrissey  blended  that  of  a  prize 
fighter  of  the  lowest  caste.  Drunken,  brutal,  without 
friends  or  money,  battered  in  his  clothes  and  in  his 
person,  he  drifted  down  to  New  York  to  see  what 
would  turn  up.  He  located  himself  in  the  lowest 
stews  of  New  York.  At  that  time  the  elections  in 
the  city  were  carried  by  brute  force.  There  was  no 
registry  law,  and  the  injunction  of  politicians,  to  "vote 
early  and  vote  often, "  was  literally  obeyed.  Roughs, 


346  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Short-Boys,  brutal  representatives  of  the  Bloody 
Sixth,  took  possession  of  the  polls.  Respectable 
men,  who  were  known  to  be  opposed  to  the  corrup- 
tion and  brutality  which  marked  the  elections,  were 
assaulted,  beaten,  robbed,  and  often  had  their  coats 
torn  from  their  backs.  The  police  were  powerless; 
often  they  were  allies  of  the  bullies,  and  citizens  had 
quite  as  much  to  fear  from  them  as  from  the  rowdies. 
If  the  election  was  likely  to  go  against  them,  and 
their  friends  presided  over  the  ballot-box,  and  should 
signal  the  danger,  a  rush  would  be  made  by  twenty 
or  thirty  desperate  fellows,  the  boxes  be  seized  and 
smashed,  tables  and  heads  broken,  the  voters  dis- 
persed, and  the  election  carried  by  default. 

A  local  election  was  to  take  place  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  city.  The  friends  of  good  order  Avere  in  the 
majority,  if  allowed  to  vote.  But  it  was  known  that 
the  rowdies  would  come  in  force  and  control  the 
election.  A  few  voters  got  together  to  see  what 
could  be  done,  and  among  them  a  former  General  i 
Superintendent  of  Police.  It  was  suggested  that 
force  be  met  with  force,  that  the  ballot-box  be 
guarded,  and  the  assailants  beaten  off  by  their  own  ' 
wea2:)ons.  But  where  could  the  materials  be  found 
to  grapple  with  the  Plug  Ugliesand  their  associates? 
Somebody  said  that  Morrissey  was  in  town  ready  for 
a  job,  and  that  he  could  organize  a  force  and  guard 
the  election. 

One  day  Mrs.  Kennedy  came  to  her  husband  as  he 
sat  in  his  room,  and  said  to  him,  "  There  is  an  a^vful 
looking  man  at  the  door,  wlio  wants  to  see  you.  He 
is  dirty  and  ragged,  has  a  ferocious  look,  and  is  the 


Gambling  Houses. 


347 


most  terrible  fellow  I  ever  saw.  Don't  go  to  the 
door;  lie  certainly  means  mischief."  Is  he  a  big 
burly  looking  fellow?  "Yes."  "Broad-shouldered, 
tall,  with  his  nose  turned  one  side?"  "Yes, 
yes,"  said  the  impatient  lady.  "  O,  I  know 
who  it  is ;  it  is  John  Morrissey ;  let  him  come  in. " 
"  O,  husband,  the  idea  of  your  associating  with  such 
men,  and  bringing  them  to  the  house,  too  !"  But  the 
unwelcome  visitor  walked  into  "the  parlor.  Now, 
John  Morrissey  at  Saratoga,  in  his  white  flannel  suit, 
huge  diamond  rings,  and  pin  containing  brilliants 
of  the  fii-st  water,  and  of  immense  size;  tall  of 
stature,  a  powerful  looking  fellow,  walking  quietly 
about  the  streets,  or  lounging  at  the  hotels,  but  sel- 
dom speaking,  was  not  a  bad  looking  man.  Seen  in 
New  York  in  his  clerical  black  suit,  a  little  too  flashy 
to  be  a  minister,  yet  among  bankers,  merchants,  or 
at  the  stock  board  he  passed  very  well  as  one  of  the 
solid  men  of  the  city.  But  Morrissey  as  he  appeared 
that  morning  was  an  entirely  different  personage. 
He  had  come  from  a  long  debauch,  and  that  of  the 
lowest  kind.  He  was  bruised  and  banged  up.  His 
clothes  were  tattered.  The  Island  was  all  that 
seemed  to  be  opened  to  him.  With  him  a  bargain 
was  made  to  organize  a  force  of  fighters  and  bullies, 
sufficient  to  prevent  the  ballot-boxes  from  being 
smashed,  and  the  voters  from  being  driven  from  the 
polls.  He  said  he  could  do  it,  for  he  was  at  home 
among  desperadoes.  True  to  his  appointment,  he 
was  at  the  polls  before  they  were  open.  He  was 
attended  by  about  thirty  as  desperate  looking  fellows 
as  ever  rode  in  a  wagon  or  swung  from  Tyburn.  He 


348 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


stationed  liis  force,  gave  his  orders,  told  each  not  to 
strike  promiscuously,  but,  on  the  first  appearance  of 
disturbance,  each  to  seize  his  man,  and  not  leave  him 
till  his  head  was  broken.  There  was  no  disturbance 
till  twelve  o'clock.  The  late  Captain  Carpenter  was 
in  charge.  About  noon  a  huge  lumber-van  drove  up, 
drawn  by  four  horses.  It  was  loaded  with  the 
roughest  of  the  rough,  who  shouted  and  yelled  as  the 
vehicle  neared  the  curbstone.  Bill  Poole,  at  that 
time  so  notorious,  led  the  company.  They  were 
choice  specimens  of  the  men  who  then  made  the 
rulers  of  New  York.  Plug  Uglies,  Bummers,  Roughs 
of  the  Bloody  Sixth,  Short-Boys,  Fourth  Warders, 
and  men  of  that  class,  were  fully  represented.  Bill 
Poole  sprang  to  the  sidewalk.  Captain  Carpenter 
stood  in  the  door.  Addressing  him,  Poole  said, 
"Cap.  may  I  go  in?"  "  O,  yes;  walk  in  and  wel- 
come, ^  Carpenter  said,  and  in  Poole  went.  He  saw 
the  situation  at  a  glance.  He  measured  Morrissey 
and  his  gang,  turned  on  his  heel,  and,  passing  out, 
said,  "  Good  morning,  Cap. ;  I  won't  give  you  a  call 
to-day;  drive  on,  boys;"  and  on  they  went  to  some 
polling  place  where  they  could  play  their  desperate 
game  without  having  their  heads  broken. 

This  was  Morrissey' s  first  upward  step.  He  washed 
his  face ;  with  a  part  of  the  money  paid  him  he 
bought  a  suit  of  clothes,  and  with  the  balance  opened 
a  small  place  for  play.  He  became  thoroughly  tem- 
perate. He  resolved  to  secure  first-class  custom.  To 
do  this  he  knew  he  must  dress  well,  behave  well,  be 
sober,  and  not  gamble.  These  resolutions  he  carried 
out.   His  house  in  New  York  w^as  the  most  elegantly 


Gambling  Houses. 


349 


furnished  of  any  of  the  kind  in  the  state.  It  was 
always  conducted  on  j^rinciples  of  the  highest  honor, 
as  gamblers  understand  that  term.  His  table,  attend- 
ants, cooking,  and  company  were  exceeded  by  nothing 
this  side  of  the  Aclantic. 

AT  SARATOGA. 

He  followed  his  patrons  to  Saratoga^  and  opened 
there  what  was  called  a  Club  House.  Judges,  sena- 
tors, merchants,  bankers,  millionaires,  became  his 
guests.  The  disguise  was  soon  thrown  off.  and  the 
club  house  assumed  the  form  of  a  first-class  gambling 
house  at  the  Springs.  Horse-racing  and  attendant 
games  followed,  all  bringing  custom  and  pj'ofit  to 
Morrissey's  establishment.  About  this  time  the  cele- 
brated conspiracy  was  formed  by  politicians  and 
railroad  men  to  break  d*own  Harlem  Railroad,  and 
with  it  Commodore  Vanderbilt.  As  a  player  Morris- 
sey  soon  became  familiar  with  Vanderbilt,  who  spent 
his  summers  at  the  Springs.  In  the  extraordinary 
movements  made  by  Commodore  Vanderbilt  to  check- 
mate the  conspirators,  and  throw  them  on  their  back, 
Morrissey  was  employed  to  play  a  conspicuous  part, 
He  made  his  appearance  at  the  Stock  Board,  backed 
by  Vanderbilt,  He  traded  in  Harlem  in  a  manner 
that  astounded  the  old  operators  at  the  board.  He 
was  allowed  to  share  in  the  profits  of  that  bold 
stroke  which  ruined  thousands  who  had  sold  Harlem 
short. 

As  Morrissey  grew  rich  he  became  respectable. 
He  secured  an  election  to  Congress  where  he  "respect- 
ably" represented  his   district,   seldom  speaking, 


350 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


always  voting,  never  absent  from  his  seat,  and  never 
known  to  take  a  bribe.  There  and  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature he  had  the  reputation  of  a  thoroughly  honest 
politician.  Just  before  his  death  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate,  running  against  one  of  the  most 
popular  Tammany  politicians  and  beating  him  ;  but 
he  did  not  live  to  take  his  seat.  Honest  men  of  both 
parties  voted  for  him.  It  was  really  a  fight  against 
the  power  of  Tammany  Hall.  Their  ticket  presented 
Augustus  Schell,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respect- 
able citizens  of  New  York,  but  Tammany  was  in  bad 
odor  then,  and  Democrats  and  Republicans  joined  to 
defeat  him.  Morrissey's  victory,  however,  hastened 
his  death.  He  was  sojourning  in  Florida  for  his 
health,  and  returned,  against  the  ad\dce  of  his 
physicians,  to  take  active  part  in  the  election.  He 
had  many  good  qualities.  All  his  hopes  were  con- 
centrated in  his  only  son,  who  was  carefully  brought 
up  and  educated,  but  who  died  before  his  father.  Not- 
withstanding the  "Club  House"  at  Saratoga,  Morris- 
sey  was  the  most  efficient  of  all  in  keeping  away  from 
that  summer  resort  all  gamblers,  pickpockets,  and 
other  bad  characters  from  New  York  and  elsewhere. 
He  knew  them  all  and  they  all  knew  him,  and  knew 
that  they  must  keep  away.  The  village  of  Saratoga  - 
owes  much  to  him  for  his  efforts  in  this  direction,  and  { 
for  his  endeavors  to  add  to  the  attractions  of  the  j 
place  by  a  well  managed  racing  track.  He  did  not 
leave  as  large  a  property  as  he  was  generally  esti-  > 
mated  to  be  worth,  but  a  handsome  competence  for 
his  wife  and  some  bequests  to  other  members  of  his  ! 
family  showed  that  he  was  far  from  a  poor  man  when  j 
he  died. 


Gambling  Houses. 


351 


It  is  very  rare  that  a  gambler  makes  money.  The 
late  hours,  the  constant  drinking,  the  exciting  food 
that  is  eaten,  the  infatuation  of  play,  inevitably  lead 
to  destruction.  If  men  begin  with  a  cautious  hand, 
and  in  what  are  known  as  fii^t-class  houses,  they 
descend  step  by  step  till  they  reach  the  lowest  depths 
to  which  gambling  descends.  A  few  men  make  it  a 
profession,  and  a  few  have  followed  it  for  half  a 
century.  They  are  men  of  peculiar  organization,  who 
resist  the  fascinations  of  play,  and  never  touch  the 
wine  cup. 

Any  one  who  takes  a  late  city  car  going  up  town 
will  find  two  or  three  genteelly  dressed  men,  very 
fashionable  in  their  attire,  carefully  barbered,  pro- 
fusely covered  with  jewelry,  fat,  sleek,  and  in  good 
condition,  evidently  on  excellent  terms  with  them- 
selves ;  any  night  in  the  week,  between  twelve  and 
two,  this  class,  looking  very  much  alike,  may  be  seen 
going  to  their  homes.  They  are  the  men  who  make 
gambling  a  business.  They  do  not  drink,  they  do 
not  play.  Success  in  the  business  they  have  under- 
taken forbids  this.  They  attend  church,  and  usually 
have  a  pew  in  a  fashionable  place  of  worship.  They 
are  liberal  subscribers  to  the  causes  of  religion  and 
beneficence.  They  would  not  hesitate  to  head  a  sub- 
scription with  a  liberal  sum  to  suppress  gambling.  It 
would  be  policy  to  do  so,  and  policy  is  their  forte. 

A  man  lives  in  the  upper  part  of  this  city,  and  in 
fine  style.  He  is  reputed  to  be  worth  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  He  came  to  New  York  penniless. 
He  decided  to  take  up  play  as  a  business;  not  to  keep 
a  gambling  house,  but  to  play  every  night  as  a  trade. 


352 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


He  made  certain  rules,  which  lie  has  kept  over  thirty 
years.  He  would  avoid  all  forms  of  licentiousness ; 
would  attend  church  regularly  on  Sunday;  would 
avoid  all  low,  disreputable  company ;  would  drink 
no  kind  of  intoxicating  liquors,  wine,  or  ale ;  would 
neither  smoke  nor  chew;  would  go  nightly  to  his 
play,  as  a  man  would  go  to  his  office  or  to  his  trade ; 
would  play  as  long  as  he  won,  or  until  the  bank  broke ; 
would  lose  a  certain  sum  and  no  more ;  when  he  lost 
that,  he  would  stop  playing,  and  leave  the  room  for 
the  night;  if  he  lost  ten  nights  in  succession,  he 
would  lose  that  exact  sum  and  no  more,  and  wait  till 
his  luck  changed.  This  system  he  has  followed 
exactly.  While  this  one  man  has  been  successful  in 
this  career,  tens  of  thousands,  who  have  tried  the 
hazard,  have  been  carried  down  into  irretrievable  ruin. 

One  of  the  greatest  dangers  to  which  a  young  man 
from  the  country*is  liable  is  found  in  the  bad  com- 
panions met  in  boarding  houses.    There  are  several 
hundreds  of  these  establishments  within  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  of  Union  Square,  and  each  contains  from 
ten  to  twenty  clerks.    When  a  country  youth  enters 
one  of  these  he  is  in  a  new  world.    He  comes  with  a 
stock  of  good  resolutions  and  has  been  well  laden 
with  paternal  advice,  but  the  pressure  which  now 
surrounds  him  is  far  more  powerfuL    As  a  matter  of  ■ 
course,  most  of  his  associates  are  dissipated,  and  j 
there  is  a  rivalry  which  shall  be  the  first  to  induct  i 
him  into  evil. 

Faro  is  an  abbreviation  of  Pharaoh,  whose  face  was  j 
formerly  on  one  of  tlie  cards.  The  leading  player  is  i 
called  the  "  punter, "  and  this  is  suggested  by  Pope's  j 
lines:  ' 


Gambling  Houses. 


353 


Wretch  that  I  am,  how  often  have  T  swore 

When  Winnell  tallied  I  would  punt  no  more! 

I  know  the  bait,  3^et  to  my  ruin  run, 

And  see  the  folly  which  I  can  not  shun. 
Speaking  of  the  time  of  Pope,  I  recently  opened 
an  old  volume  of  The  Gentleman^ s  Magazine  and 
read  tlie  following  description  of  the  game  as  it  was 
played  a  century  and  a  lialf  ago: 

First  an  operator  wIlo  deals  the  cards  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cheating;  also  two  crowpees  (croupier),  who 
watch  the  cards  and  gather  the  money  for  the  bank. 
Then  there  are  two  "puffs,"  who  have  money  given 
them  to  play  with,  and  thus  decoy  others  to  try ; 
also  a  bully,  who  is  to  fight  any  gentleman  who  is 
peevish  at  losing  his  money.  Then  there  is  the  watch- 
man, who  walks  up  and  down  and  alarms  the  house 
on  the  approach  of  a  constable. 

Such  is  a  brief  statement  of  gaming  in  London  in 
the  days  of  Pope.  Hogarth  gives  a  very  powerful 
scene  in  a  gaming-house,  being  a  part  of  the  "  Rake's 
Progress. "  How  many  rakes  have  been  ruined  since 
then  is  beyond  all  calculation. 

Cards  are  supposed  to  be  of  Asiatic  origin.  Chinese 
cards  have  three  suits,  each  of  nine  cards.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  they  were  introduced  into  Europe  by 
Arabs  and  Saracens  before  the  thirteenth  centuiy. 
The  first  historic  reference  is  found  in  Augsburg, 
whose  records  mention  the  fact  that  in  1275  King 
Eudolph  amused  himself  with  a  game  at  cards.  The 
most  eminent  card  manufacturer  in  France  in  the 
sixteenth  century  was  Voto.  Soon  afterward  the 
same  business  was  established  in  England.    It  is 


354  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


said  that  the  marks  in  the  suits  of  cards  were  in- 
tended to  represent  four  classes  in  society,  hearts 
being  the  clergy,  spades  (from  spada,  a  sword)  the 
nobility,  diamonds  the  citizens,  and  clubs  the  serfs. 
There  ought  to  be  one  more,  to  represent  the  dupes. 
The  most  famous  of  London  gamblers  was  Crockford, 
whose  "hell"  sometimes  witnessed  the  exchange  of  a 
half  million  sterling  in  one  night.  Byron  says  that 
he  was  asked  by  an  acquaintance  where  he  (the 
latter)  would  be  found  after  death.  The  poet 
promptly  replied  in  "Silver  hell,"  which  was  a 
popular  gaming  resort  of  that  city.  Byron  adds  that 
he  narrowly  escaped  a  challenge  for  his  keen  retort. 

Keno  is  a  popular  game  simply  because  it  is  so 
rapid  and  so  cheap.    At  10  cents  a  chance  almost 
any  one  can  play.    Keno  is  just  the  game  for  boys, 
and  the  practiced  gambler  despises  such  small  busi- 
ness; besides  this,  he  can  see  with  half  an  eye  that 
the  chances  are  usually  heavy  against  the  player. 
Thus,  if  in  faro  the  bank  has  six  chances  out  of  ten, 
in  keno  it  has  seven  or  eight.    It  may  be  readily 
seen  that  keno  dens  will  abound  in  great  cities,  and  j 
in  some  localities  they  may  be  found  side  by  side  in 
close  array.    Among  the  devotees  of  keno  are  often  f 
found  students  from  the  country  who  have  come  to 
attend  lectures.    They  are  in  some  cases  supported  «] 
by  the  self-denying  economy  of  parents,  and  even  1 
sisters,  and  could  the  latter  behold  the  object  of  their  j 
affection  squandering  his  money  at  the  keno  table, 
how  great  would  be  the  agony !    It  is  well  that  so  j 
painful  a  spectacle  is  spared  them.  I 


i 


Gambling  Houses. 


355 


THE  SKIN  GAME. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  gambling  in  this  city,  one 
known  as  the  square  game,  which  is  played  only  by 
gentlemen,  and  in  first-class  houses;  the  other,  the 
skin  game,  which  is  played  in  all  the  dens  and  cham- 
bers, and  in  the  thousand  low  hells  of  New  York. 
In  the  square  game  nobody  is  solicited,  nor  obliged  to 
play,  though  they  visit  the  rooms.  In  low  gaming 
houses  it  is  not  safe  for  any  one  to  enter  unless  he 
plays.  Persons  are  not  only  solicited,  but  bullied 
into  hazarding  something.  Runners  are  out,  who 
visit  all  the  hotels  and  places  of  amusement  to  solicit 
custom,  as  drummers  solicit  trade  for  dry  goods 
houses.  The  mode  of  procedure  is  usually  this.  A 
person  arrives  in  New  York,  and  books  his  name  at 
a  hotel.  A  sharper,  who  is  hanging  round  fi'om  a 
low  club-house,  watches  his  descent  from  the  coach, 
or  his  entrance  with  his  carpet-bag,  watches  him  as 
he  books  his  name,  and  waits  until  he  has  finished 
his  dinner  or  supper,  and  comes  into  the  public  room. 
To  a  stranger  there  is  no  place  so  lonely  and  utterly 
desolate  as  a  great  city.  The  stranger  does  not  know 
what  to  do  with  the  time  that  hangs  heavy  on  his 
hands  till  the  morning  trade  begins.  The  roper-in 
for  the  gambling  house  understands  this  very  well. 
At  the  proper  time  he  approaches  the  visitor,  and 
calls  him  by  name ;  asks  him  if  he  is  not  from  Chicago 
or  Ne^v  Orleans,  as  the  case  may  be ;  announces  him- 
self as  from  that  city ;  speaks  about  mutual  ac- 
quaintances. The  visitor,  thankful  that  he  has  found 
somebody  to  speak  to  in  this  great  wilderness,  becomes 


356 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


communicative.  The  sharper  soon  finds  out  whether 
his  companion  is  a  drinking  man  or  not.  If  he  is,  an 
invitation  is  given  to  come  up  and  take  a  drink,  in 
which  the  health  of  their  mutual  friends  in  New 
Orleans  and  elsewhere  is  duly  honored.  Each  treats 
the  other,  and  several  glasses  are  drank.  From  the 
bar  the  parties  proceed  to  the  front  steps  of  the 
hotel. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  with  yourself  to-night 
is  carelessly  asked  by  the  roper-in.    Of  course  the 
victim  has  no  plans ;  he  has  not  been  in  New  York 
long  enough  to  form  any.    He  is  only  too  happy  to 
accept  an  invitation  to  call  at  a  private  club  house  of 
a  friend.    "They  keep  vile  liquor  in  this  house ;  I 
would  not  di^ink  the  stufE.    My  friend  imports  his 
own  liquors ;  you'll  get  a  fine  drink  over  there. " 
Arm  in  arm  the  parties  start  for  the  club  house, 
which,  of  course,  is  a  gambling  den.    They  take  a 
few  drinks  all  round,  and  then  pass  into  another 
room,  where  "a  few  gentlemen"  are  having  a  quiet 
game  by  themselves.    The  roper  looks  on  for  a  while, 
and  suggests  to  his  friend  that  he  take  a  chance  for 
a  dollar  or  so ;  that  he  is  not  much  accustomed  to 
play,  but  that  he  does  so  once  in  a  while  for  amuse- 
ment.   He  plays  and  wins ;  he  plays  again  and  wins. 
The  game  is  so  played  that  winning  or  losing  is  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  man  who  shuffles   the  cards,  j 
Between  each  play  the  visitors  drink.    It  costs  them  ' 
nothing,  and  they  drink  deep;  at  least  the  victim 
does.    Confidentially  over  their  glasses  the  sharper  , 
suggests  that  his  friend  back  him  for  the  little  sum  j 
of  fifty  dollars.    The  excited  man  yields,  and  wins. 


Gambling  Houses. 


357 


He  now  bets  a  hundred  dollars.  The  infatuation  is 
upon  him.  He  bets  all  his  money,  pledges  his  watch 
and  jewelry,  till,  insensible,  he  is  turned  out  on  the 
sidewalk,  to  be  taken  to  the  station  house,  or  carried 
to  his  hotel  by  the  police.  In  these  dens  strangers 
have  lost  as  high  as  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in 
a  single  night.  In  the  morning  the  gamblers  cannot 
be  found,  and  if  found,  the  sharpers  are  far  away. 
There  are  about  fifty  of  these  sharpers,  who  prowl 
about  the  hotels  nightly,  seeking  their  victims  among 
the  unwary.  Men  who  frequent  low  and  disreputable 
places  to  fleece  strangers  and  the  young  are  not  only 
professed  gamblers,  but  curbstone  brokers  and  gam- 
blers in  stocks,  with  whom  the  excitement  of  the  day 
is  exchanged  for  the  hazard  of  the  night. 

DAY  GAMBLING  HOUSES. 

There  is  a  class  of  speculators  who  are  not  content 
with  legitimate  business  nor  legitimate  hours.  The 
uptown  hotels  are  crowded  with  them.  Rooms  are 
occupied,  halls  rented,  and  the  day  excitement  at 
Wall  street  is  renewed  in  the  evening,  and  often  runs 
up  to  the  small  hours  of  the  morning.  The  same 
spirit  led  to  the  opening  of  day  gambling  houses. 
These  are  conveniently  located  to  business.  They 
run  from  Fulton  street  to  Wall,  are  found  at  a  con- 
venient distance  from  Broadway  and  Water  street. 
They  are  designed  to  attract  merchants,  bankers, 
yoimg  men,  and  visitors  from  the  country.  They 
have  ropers-in,  as  have  the  night  gambling  saloons. 
These  decoys  have  a  percentage  taken  from  the  win- 
iiings  of  their  customers.  Every  man  they  can  seduce 


358  WONDEBS  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


to  enter  one  of  tliese  establishments,  if  lie  lose  money, 
is  a  gain  to  the  decoy.  Tliese  sharpers  hang  round 
the  street,  loaf  on  the  curbstone,  dog  their  victims 
from  store  to  store,  profEer  them  aid,  go  Avith  them 
blocks  to  show  them  the  way,  help  them  to  make 
purchases,  propose  to  show  them  sights,  and  at  length, 
as  if  accidentally,  lead  them  into  a  day  gambling 
saloon,  which  is  situated  very  conveniently  for  the 
purpose.  In  these  dens,  men  who  have  lost  in  stocks 
on  the  street  try  to  make  gains.  Missing  bonds  here 
turn  up,  missing  securities  are  here  found,  pledged 
by  confidential  clerks,  who,  until  now,  were  supposed 
to  be  trustworthy.  Young  men  who  are  robbed  in 
the  street,  from  whose  hands  funds  are  snatched, 
from  whose  possession  a  well-stuffed  pocket  book  has 
been  taken,  find  the  thief  usually  within  the  silent 
walls  of  a  day  gambling  house. 

HOW  THE  EOOMS  AEE  FITTED  UP. 

The  place  selected  for  one  of  these  saloons  is  in  the 
busiest  and  most  frequented  parts  of  lower  New 
York.  A  store  let  in  floors  is  usually  selected.  A 
large  building  full  of  offices,  with  a  common  stairway, 
up  and  doAvn  which  people  are  rushing  all  the  time, 
is  preferred ;  or  the  loft  of  a  warehouse,  if  nothing 
better  can  be  had,  is  taken.  A  sealed  partition  mns 
from  the  floor  to  the  wall.  The  windows  are  barred 
with  wooden  shutters,  and  covered  with  heavy  cur- 
tains. The  rooms  are  handsomely  carpeted,  and 
gayly  adorned.  Lounges  and  chairs  line  the  sides  of 
the  room,  and  the  inevitable  roulette  and  faro  tables 
stand  in  their  place.    The  padded  cushion  on  which 


Gambling  Houses. 


359 


the  cards  rest  tells  the  employment  of  the  room.  The 
outside  door  is  flush  with  the  partition.  A  party  de- 
siring to  enter  pulls  the  bell,  and  the  door  opens 
without  any  apparent  agency,  and  closes  suddenly  on 
the  comer.  The  hardened  gambler  walks  in  as  he 
would  into  a  bar  room  or  an  omnibus,  regardless  of 
observation.  But  the  young  man  who  is  new  to  the 
business,  who  has  come  justly  or  unjustly  by  a  bill, 
who  has  been  sent  out  on  an  errand  and  must  make 
up  a  falsehood  to  account  for  his  detention,  or  who  is 
sent  from  the  bank  to  the  Clearing  House,  or  from 
the  Clearing  House  to  the  Custom  House,  and  who 
runs  in  to  try  his  luck  for  a  few  minutes,  or  for 
thirty,  can  be  easily  detected.  He  pauses  below; 
goes  a  story  above  ;  looks  up  and  down  before  he  pulls 
the  bell ;  faintly  draws  the  wire,  and  darts  in  like  a 
startled  fawn.  Not  without  observation  and  scrutiny 
does  the  customer  get  into  the  saloon.  The  outside 
door  admits  him  into  a  small  vestibule.  The  door 
behind  him  is  closed,  and  he  cannot  open  it.  The  bell 
has  announced  his  presence.  He  is  scrutinized  through 
a  small  wicket  opening  in  the  wall.  He  must  in  some 
way  be  vouched  for.  If  he  comes  through  invitation 
of  a  roper-in  he  has  a  card.  If  all  is  right  he  is  ad- 
mitted. The  darkness  of  night  fills  the  room.  The 
gas  is  lighted.  The  silence  of  a  sepulcher  reigns  in 
the  chamber.  Persons  sit,  lounge,  and  stand  in 
groups ;  they  watch  the  table,  but  not  a  word  is 
spoken  except  the  monotonous  utterances  of  the  men 
who  have  charge  of  the  gaming. 


360  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


AN  INSIDE  VIEW. 

Seated  at  the  table  to  deal  the  cards  sits  a  man  ap- 
parently between  forty  and  fifty  years  of  age.  These 
men  all  seem  of  the  same  age  and  of  the  same  tribe. 
They  are  usually  short,  thick  set,square  built,  pugilistic 
fellows,  half  bald,  with  mahogany  faces — men  without 
nerve,  emotion,  or  sensibility.  They  sit  apparently  all 
day  long  pursuing  their  monotonous  and  deadly  trade, 
making  no  inquiry  about  their  victims,  caring  nothing 
about  their  losses,  unmoved  by  the  shriek  of 
anguish,  the  cry  of  remorse,  the  outburst,  "  O,  I  am 
undone  !  I  am  ruined  !  What  will  my  mother  say? 
What  will  become  of  my  wife  and  children  ? "  While 
the  wounded  are  removed,  and  their  outcries  hushed, 
the  play  goes  on.  These  rooms  are  distinguished  by 
their  silence  and  quiet  tread  inside.  They  open  about 
eight  in  the  morning,  and  close  at  four,  when  the  tide 
begins  to  turn  up  town.  The  amount  of  misery  these 
day  gambling  houses  create,  the  loss  of  money, 
character  and  standing,  exceeds  all  belief.  The  men 
who  carry  on  this  class  of  gambling  down  town  are 
connected  with  the  low  class  up  town,  and  when  the 
day  gambling  houses  close,  those  that  run  in  the  night 
are  opened.  The  losses  are  often  very  heav;^^  Men 
enticed  into  these  dens  have  been  known  to  lose  from 
twelve  to  fifty  thousand  dollars  a  night.  There  is  no 
seduction  in  New  York  more  subtle  or  more  deadly 
than  the  day  gambling  houses. 

Gambling  is  far  more  general  in  the  city  than 
moralists  imagine.  It  is  common  in  all  classes,  from 
those  who  are  able  to  risk  thousands  down  to  tb^ 


Gambling  Houses. 


361 


boys  and  negroes  who  "play  policy"  in  a  hundred 
different  places.  There  are  down  town  gambling 
houses,  open  during  business  hours,  and  brokers, 
clerks  and  others  run  in  for  half  an  hour  to  risk  their 
own  or  other  people's  money.  The  police  know  of 
these  places,  and  once  in  a  while  "  raid "  them.  But 
they  flourish,  notwithstanding,  and  ruin  thousands. 

ladies'  gamblino  houses. 

It  would  hardly  be  thought  possible  that  there  was 
sufiicient  interest  taken  in  gaming  by  ladies  to  lead  to 
the  hiring  and  fitting  up  of  houses  expressly  for  their 
accommodation.  Nevertheless  such  is  the  fact.  There 
are  quite  enough  of  "lady  sharps" — may  be  innocent 
of  worse  knowledge — to  warrant  the  establishment  of 
places  at  which  money  can  be  often  lost  and  seldom 
won.  Women,  it  is  sooth  to  say,  soon  acquire  many 
of  the  tricks  and  much  of  the  "talk"  of  confirmed 
gamesters.  A  recent  publication  gives  the  following 
graphic  description  of  one  of  these  fashionable  resorts 
of  the  creme  de  la  creme  of  feminine  poker  players, 
through  interviewing  one  of  the  participants : 

"The  night  after  Washington's  Birthday,  a  lady 
operator  who  is  employed  in  the  ofiice  with  me  asked 
if  I  would  visit  a  friend  of  hers  with  her.  I  con- 
sented, and  after  supper  she  took  me  to  an  elegantly 
furnished  house  on  Rivington  street,  near  Allen, 
where  I  was  introduced  to  half  a  dozen  'young 
women  who  were  present.  We  sat  and  talked  for  a 
while,  and  then  one  of  the  ladies  proposed  a  social 
game  of  cards.  First  it  was  euchre,  and  then  after 
a  time  one  of  the  women  mildly  inquired  if  I  played 


362  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


casino.  I  said  I  played  a  little,  and  then  we  started 
in  and  played  two  or  three  games.  Then  my  lady 
friend  who  had  brought  me  to  the  house  retired  to 
an  adjoining  room  with  another  young  lady,  leaving 
me  playing  casino  with  a  girl  about  twenty  or 
twenty-one.  Becoming  tired  of  the  game,  my  op- 
ponent suggested  she  would  like  to  play  a  little  game 
of  poker.  I  said  I  didn't  know  how,  but  she  was 
alert  to  give  instructions.  ^  We'll  begin  on  five-cent 
ante,'  she  said.  She  then  explained  the  nature  of 
an  ^ante,'  the  relative  value  of  ^two  pairs,'  ^  three  of  a 
kind,'  ^  straights,'  ^  full  hand,'  ^  flush,'  and  so  on.  I 
became  interested,  and  inquired  how  much  I  ought 
to  bet.  ^  It  didn't  matter,'  she  said.  ^  Any  amount' 
We  played  quite  a  while  and  I  lost  $1.50 — all  the 
money  I  had  in  my  pocketbook.  Then  we  sat  chat- 
ting, and  she  said  if  I'd  call  some  evening  she'd  teach 
me  the  game  thoroughly.  I  promised  to  come  again, 
and  when  my  friend  came  into  the  room  where  we 
were  she  asked  me  if  I  could  loan  her  a  dollar.  I 
told  her  I  didn't  have  it,  and  then  we  started  for 
home.  When  we  reached  the  Second  Avenue  Ele- 
vated Station,  and  were  going  up  the  stairs,  my  friend 
turned  around  suddenly  and  said  :  ^  Susie,  I'm  busted. 
You'll  have  to  pay  the  fare.'  I  explained  that  I 
hadn't  a  cent,  and  so  we  had  to  walk  up  town.  On 
the  way  home  I  told  her  how  I  lost  my  money  at  the 
cards,  and  she  told  me  that  the  house  we  were  in  ran 
a  few  little  games  on  the  quiet.  She  said  she  had 
won  as  much  as  fifteen  dollars  there  in  one  night.  I 
got  so  worked  up  about  the  thing  that  I  agreed  to  go 
again  with  her  on  the  following  Saturday  night.  I 


Gambling  Houses. 


363 


went  and  have  gone  at  least  once  a  week  since  then. 
Sometimes  I  come  away  broke.  On  several  occasions 
I  have  won  pretty  good  sums  of  money. 

Every  Saturday  night  the  place  is  fairly  packed 
with  women.  They  come  in  coaches,  too,  for  some  of 
those  who  go  there  are  said  to  be  wealthy.  On 
week  nights  there  are  not  so  many  visitors  as  on 
Saturdays  and  Sundays.  Still  the  place  is  pretty 
well  filled  every  night." 

The  reporter  was  invited  to  accompany  the  young 
lady  and  see  for  himself,  and  an  appointment  was 
made  and  kept  for  Thursday  night.  The  front  door 
was  reached  at  half-past  ten  o'clock  and  the  young 
lady  pulled  the  bell.  An  opening  of  several  doors 
was  heard,  then  suddenly  a  dusky  face  looked  out 
and  scanned  the  features  of  the  visitors  carefully. 
He  recognized  the  girl  and  asked:  "  Is  this  all  right, 
Susie  V  She  said  it  was,  and  after  passing  through 
two  heavy  doors  the  young  lady  and  the  writer  were 
ushered  through  the  hallway,  and  from  there  into  a 
large  parlor  which  was  handsomely  furnished.  A 
long  table  occupied  the  centre  of  the  parlor,  on  which 
was  set  a  supper  of  ordinary  excellence.  In  the  front 
part  of  the  room  three  men  and  a  half  dozen  women 
were  clustered  about  a  table  playing  a  private  game 
of  cards  with  checks  for  $1,  $2.50  and  $5.  Near  the 
folding  doors  was  a  roulette  table,  unpatronized,  and 
in  the  back  room  was  the  faro  bank,  around  which 
seven  or  eight  richly  dressed  women  were  engaged  in 
losing  money  with  greater  or  less  speed  and  regular- 
ity, according  to  the  extent  of  their  ill  luck.  Every- 
thing about  the  house  appeared  to  be  conducted  with 


364  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tte  utmost  quietude,  no  sound  being  heard  except  an 
occasional  argument  between  the  women.  Then  the 
reporter  was  shown  upstairs,  the  fair  telegraph  oper- 
ator leading  the  way.  Three  rooms  on  this  floor  were 
moderately  furnished,  and  men  and  women  sat  about 
many  tables  playing  and  smoking  cigarettes.  Smok- 
ing seemed  a  favorite  pastime  with  the  majority  of 
the  females  on  this  floor. 

"See  that  w^oman  over  there  with  the  cloth  suit  on," 
said  the  telegraj^h  girl.  "Her  husband's  a  clerk  in 
one  of  the  courts.  She's  a  regular  female  sport  and 
is  all  the  time  betting.  She'll  wager  from  one  dollar 
to  a  hundred  on  anything  from  a  dog  fight  to  an  elec- 
tion. She's  a  great  one  for  attending  races,  too,  and 
can  pick  out  a  good  horse  every  time.  Her  husband 
knows  she's  a  sport,  but  he  don't  care  where  she  goes. 

That  little  black  haired  woman  with  the  ruby  lips 
is  here  every  night.  Her  husband  is  said  to  be  very 
wealthy,  and  he  must  be,  too,  for  she  drops  about 
twenty-five  dollars  a  week  here.  Girls  who  work  hard 
all  the  week  come  here  Saturday  night  and  leave  their 
wages.  One  girl  w^ho  works  in  the  bad  hole  used  to 
come  up  here  Saturday  night  after  she'd  got  through 
toiling.  Now  she  comes  Sundays.  Well,  she  has  a 
mother  and  young  sisters  to  care  for  and  whenever 
she'd  go  broke  here  all  the  women'd  make  up  a 
purse  for  her,  'cause  she  used  to  cry  and  say  she'd 
squeal  on  the  establishment.  Sometimes  she'd  go 
home  without  a  cent,  and  then  she'd  tell  us  the  next 
time  we  saw  her  what  an  a^vful  time  there  was  at 
her  house  that  night,  and  how  she  used  to  make  up 
lies  by  the  score.    One  night  she'd  tell  her  mother 


Gambling  Houses. 


365 


tlie  firm  liad  changed  tlie  pay  night.  Then,  again, 
she'd  go  home  with  a  story  about  the  firm  being  short 
of  funds.  Sometimes  she'd  loaned  her  wages  to  the 
forewoman.  To  make  up  what  she'd  lose  at  gamb- 
ling, she'd  have  to  scrape  pretty  hard,  and  once  in  a 
while,  when  she'd  have  a  streak  of  good  luck,  she'd 
go  home  and  say  she  had  got  her  back  pay.  I  haven't 
heard  lately  how  she's  making  out,  but  if  she's  losing 
now  I  suppose  she  tells  her  mother  the  money  goes 
toward  the  supj)ort  of  the  striking  laundry  girls  of 
Troy.  She's  always  got  something  nevv^  to  tell  at 
home  about  the  way  she  disposes  of  her  w^ages.  A 
favorite  game  here  among  the  Vv^omen  is  sweat,  the 
common  form  of  gambling  with  dice.  There's  a  woman 
who  lives  on  Eighty-sixth  street,  and  whenever  she 
comes  here  she  won't  go  into  anything  but  ^  sweat '  or 
seven-up.  She's  the  boss  of  the  house  at  seven-up, 
but  it  is  said  she  tampers  with  the  cards  in  dealing. 
There  was  a  blonde  w^ho  used  to  come  here  with  her 
who  had  an  awful  passion  for  gambling.  I  saw  her 
lose  foi'ty  dollars  here  in  one  night.  The  next  day 
she  pawned  her  watch  and  diamonds  and  thought  of 
taking  all  her  husband's  money  and  absconding  with 
it.  She'd  invest  her  last  dime  in  a  policy  shop.  It 
is  three  weeks  now  since  she's  been  here.  I  don't 
know  what  has  become  of  her.  Probably  she  has 
absconded.  But  if  there  is  a  man  in  Eighty-sixth 
street  or  thereal)outs  wlio  has  recently  lost  a  blonde 
wife  he  can  blame  the  woman  who  runs  this  place 
for  his  loss. " 

"  Now,  if  you'll  come  up  on  the  next  floor  (the  third) 
I'll  show  you  what  sends  a  woman  home  with  fire  in 


366  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


her  eyes  and  Satan  astraddle  of  her  tongue."  The 
rooms  above  were  fitted  up  luxuriously,  and  evident^ 
ly  by  a  female  upholsterer  with  a  good  eye  for  color 
and  effect  in  the  drapery  and  pictures.  The  apart- 
ments, in  fact,  were  the  most  handsomely  furnished 
in  the  establishment.  In  a  corner  of  the  room  stood 
a  marble-top  table  with  many  bottles  and  glasses  upon 
it.  Here  the  women  treated  themselves  to  sherry, 
the  reporter  was  informed.  The  front  hall  bedroom 
was  a  resting  place  for  dizzy  girls  who  had  gone 
broke  down  stairs.  No  one  enters  this  room  save  by 
a  key  obtainable  downstairs.  There  was  nothing 
vulgar  about  any  of  the  women  found  upstairs,  good 
breeding  being  visible  on  all  sides.  The  language 
used  was  the  most  refined. 

THE   POOL  EOOMS. 

Society  in  fixing  its  graduates,  in  placing  one  man 
here  and  another  a  little  higher  or  a  little  lower,  has 
not  omitted  to  establish  the  status  of  the  poolseller. 
He  is  a  grade  or  two  above  the  faro-gambler,  and 
just  below  the  sporting  man  who  bets  on  margins  in 
the  board  of  trade.  The  police  draw  a  line  at  pool- 
rooms ;  it  "  pulls "  in  all  grades  below,  from  the 
bagnio  up  through  the  opium-den  and  the  assignation 
house  to  the  gambling  house ;  and  here  it  stops.  It 
would  trench  on  the  domain  of  the  poolseller  if  it 
should  advance  a  single  inch  beyond  the  faro  bank. 
The  two  are  as  closely  united  as  if  tliey  were  born 
brothers,  and  yet  the  calling  the  turn  "  of  the  last 
cards  in  a  pack  is  considered  less  reputable  than 
naming  the  winner  in  a  horse  race. 


Gambling  Houses. 


367 


There  are  differences  in  this  matter  of  gambling. 
For  instance:  "I  bet  you  $1,000  that  June  wheat 
will  advance  5  cents, "  is  highly  respectable  gambling, 
and  so  is  the  further  form  embodied  in  the  state- 
ment: "I  will  wager  you  $10,000  that  the  Interstate 
Water  Route  railway  stock  will  fall  in  value  within 
thirty  seconds."  This  is  intensely  respectable,  and 
the  people  who  indulge  in  it  are  permitted  to  join  the 
clubs  and  mingle  in  polite  circles. 

Again :  "  I  bet  that  when  the  ace  comes  out  of 
that  box  it  will  fall  on  the  losing  pile"  is  a  highly 
discreditable  method  of  gambling,  and  dooms  the 
one  addicted  to  it  to  the  contumely  of  good  men  and 
women,  the  visitations  of  the  police,  and  to  the 
penalties  and  mortifications  connected  with  an  ap- 
pearance bfefore  a  dignitary  who  represents  the 
majesty  of  the  law.  If,  instead  of  saying,  "  I  think 
June  wheat  will  advance,  and  I  will  invest  money  on 
it,"  the  player  should  say,  "  I  think  the  hand  which 
has  just  been  dealt  me  is  worth  so  much  more  than 
yours,"  then  he  becomes  at  once  a  bad  man,  and 
society  will  "sick"  its  dog  on  him  whenever  he  is 
seen  in  the  vicinity  of  the  dooryard  fence. 

Once  more:  "I  will  bet  10  cents  against  $1  that  I 
can  select  the  winner  in  this  race,"  indicates  another 
form  of  gambling,  and  which  is  more  reputable  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world  than  wagering  on  the  location 
of  the  ace,  and  less  so  than  betting  on  the  advance 
or  decline  of  the  price  of  grain. 

A  "straddle,"  or  a  "call,"  or  a  "privilege"  if  ap- 
plied to  wheat,  corn  or  stocks,  is  something  which  in 
no  way  imperils  the  social  standing  of  the  person 


368 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


who  employs  it;  if  it  be  a  "straddle"  of  a  "blind," 
or  tlie  "privilege"  of  an  "ante,"  or  the  "call"  of  a 
bet  based  on  pasteboard  combinations,  then  it  is 
something  which  sends  the  operator  into  limbo.  It 
seems  to  depend  on  the  form  in  which  the  thing  is 
done. 

The  scene  in  Barclay  street,  the  home  of  the  pool 
room,  is  always  a  busy  one  during  the  racing  season. 
One  notices  that  the  crowd  splits  off  at  intervals, 
and  portions  of  it  disappear  down  steps  and  into  dark 
doorways.  Glancing  through  one  of  these  openings, 
one  sees  at  first  only  a  level  mass  of  black,  over 
which  there  are  lambent  flames  playing  like  jack-o'. 
lanterns  above  a  graveyard  in  the  night.  Descending 
into  one  of  these  subterranean  depths,  the  level  mass 
of  black  resolves  itself  into  the  heads,  or,  rather, 
liats,  of  a  mass  of  people,  and  the  jack-o'-lanterns 
into  suffocated  gas  jets.  There  is  a  peculiar  and 
most  offensive  suggestion  of  a  lack  of  soap  and  water. 
There  are  blackboards  on  the  walls  covered  with 
figures,  and  long,  parallel,  perpendicular  lines.  There 
is  an  inclosure  on  a  dais,  from  which  a  man  with  a 
bald  head  vociferously  addresses  the  auditory.  Agile 
young  men  skip  around  on  shelves  projecting  from 
the  w^all,  and  with  a  piece  of  chalk  and  a  rag  inces- 
santly wipe  out  figures  and  write  in  others.  There 
is  a  ticket  office,  before  which  there  is  always  a  little 
crowd,  who  purchase  decorated  pieces  of  pasteboard 
from  a  person  with  a  stolid  face  within. 

The  crowd  is  a  somewhat  marked  one.  The  ma- 
jority of  it  is  composed  of  men  between  eighteen  and 
twenty  years  of  age.    It  is  a  somber  collection,  sad- 


Gambling  Houses. 


369 


faced  and  unsmiling.  There  may  be  one  silk  hat  in 
the  gathering,  but  never  two.  The  head  pieces  are 
the  stifP  derby s  and  the  slouch,  and  each,  grimy, 
brown  in  spots,  indented  on  the  surfaces,  and  evi- 
dently of  many  years'  wear.  The  clothing  of  the 
bodies  presents  the  same  musty,  long-worn,  antiquated 
appearance.  There  are  rivulets  of  grease  on  the  vesc 
fronts  and  stains  of  tobacco  juice  on  the  lapels  of  the 
coats.  The  trousers,  as  a  rule,  are  arched  out  and 
fi^ayed  over  the  heel  of  the  shoe,  and  there  is  a  notable 
absence  of  clean  collars,  cufEs,  and  shirt  fronts. 

Each  man  seems  to  use  tobacco  in  some  form.  One 
smokes  a  cigar  which  shows  a  long,  black  gutter 
burned  down  its  side  ;  others  prefer  pipes,  black,  and 
"loud"  in  flavor;  still  others  masticate  the  weed,  and 
decorate  the  floor  with  puddles  and  ambitious  little 
streams  which  essay  progress  in  some  direction  till 
they  are  first  dammed  and  then  absorbed  by  the  dirt. 
Perfect  and  attractive  democracy  prevails  in  the 
audience.  .  Darkies,  blact  as  night,  with  lips  like 
raw  beef  cutlets  and  w^ool  dense  as  the  fleece  of  a 
thoroughbred  sheep,  mingle  with  white  men  on  terms 
of  perfect  equality.  There  are  yellow  negroes, 
whitish-brown  negroes,  and  other  shades,  who  elbow 
the  whites,  crowd  up  to  the  ticket  entrances,  and  pufE 
volumes  of  niggerhead  tobacco  into  the  nostrils  of 
the  pale-faced  customers.  Whatever  else  there  may 
be  objectionable  in  the  pool  rooms,  there  is  no  beastly 
aristocracy.  When  it  comes  to  guessing  a  winner,  a 
nigger  has  just  as  many  rights  as  a  white  man,  and 
just  as  many  chances  of  winning — or  losing — as  it  is 
most  likely  to  be  the  result. 


370  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Once  in  a  while  in  this  gathering  one  recognizes 
in  a  faded  face,  careworn  features,  and  listless  air  a 
man  who  was  once  a  prosperous  member.  He  shuffles 
about  as  if  searching  for  some  valuable  thing  he  has 
lost  and  cannot  find.  His  hair  is  dusty  and  unkempt, 
his  linen  rumpled  and  dirty,  his  clothing  rusty  and 
ill-fitting.  He  will  not  find  what  he  is  looking  for. 
That  he  is  foredoomed  to  disappointment  is  written 
on  his  face. 

Pool,  in  its  horse  meanings,  applies  to  the  lumping 
or  combining  of  various  sums  of  money  on  various 
horses,  all  of  which  will  go  to  one  man.  There  are, 
say,  five  horses  in  a  race.  Jones  is  willing  to  give 
fifty  dollars  for  the  first  choice  and  Smith  will  give 
thirty  dollars  for  the  second  choice.  Brown  may  be 
w^illing  to  give  fifteen  dollars  for  the  third  choice, 
and  then  Johnson  offers  ten  dollars  for  the ''field." 
The  "field"  means  all  the  other  horses.  Here  is  a 
pool  of  $105,  which  goes  to  the  man  who  has  invested 
on  the  winning  horse  or  on  that  indeterminate 
quantity,  the  "field."  The  latter  is  a  favorite  invest- 
ment for  the  hangers-on  of  the  pool  rooms.  Occa- 
sionally an  unknown  horse  files  to  the  front,  and  the 
lucky  man  who  has  invested  his  ten  dollars  carries 
off  a  weighty  purse. 

There  are  other  forms  of  pools.  That  some  of 
them  are  obscure  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  pool  rooms,  one  of  the 
brightest  sporting  men  in  the  Northwest,  undertook 
to  explain  the  details  of  a  class  of  pool  known  as 
the  "combination,"  and  which  was  in  progress  in  his 
own  room,  and  made  a  dead  failure.  He  had  to  refer 


Gambling  Houses. 


371 


the  matter  to  liis  bookkeeper  to  provide  tlie  required 
explanation.  Tlie  "combination"  is  a  scheme  in  which 
cheap  gambling  is  encouraged,  and  in  which  an  invest- 
ment of  a  dime  may  bring  substantial  returns.  Its 
cheapness  commends  it  especially  to  the  African. 
Shoals  of  him  may  be  seen  at  the  ticket  office  ex- 
changing the  proceeds  of  boot-blacking,  coat-brush- 
ing, table-waiting,  and  the  like  for  gaily  colored 
tickets  which  give  him  an  interest  in  a  "combina- 
tion." 

The  French  mutual  system  prevails  in  the  pool 
rooms  and  has  its  votaries.  There  is  also  the  book- 
making  method,  in  which  the  operator  offers  long  odds 
against  any  horse  in  a  race  being  a  winner.  The  horse 
is  not  the  only  thing  gambled  on  in  the  pool  rooms. 
Facilities  are  offered  to  gentlemen  to  lay  their  money 
on  base-ball,  on  elections,  boat  races,  and,  in  brief,  on 
all  public  events  in  which  a  contest  is  involved.  The 
"house"  takes  five  per  cent,  of  all  the  pools  handled, 
and  claims  that  it  has  no  further  interest  in  the  trans- 
action. 

The  fairness  of  poolselling,  especially  on  the  race 
tracks,  has  been  often  doubted.  It  is  asserted  that 
the  race  is  frequently  made  to  depend  on  the  pool,  in 
place  of  the  pool  depending  on  the  race.  It  may  be 
stated  as  a  general  truth  that  all  gamblers  of  what- 
ever kind  will  get  the  best  of  it  if  they  can,  and  that 
if  the  races  are  not  manipulated  according  to  the  con- 
tents of  the  pool-box  it  is  not  owing  to  the  unwilling- 
ness of  the  fraternity. 


372  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


LOTTERIES. 

The  lottery  business  is  of  cwo  kinds,  the  single 
number  and  combination  system.  In  the  former,  as 
many  single  numbers  as  there  are  tickets  in  the  scheme, 
are  placed  in  a  wheel  and  drawn  out  in  rotation.  The 
first  number  out  of  the  wheel  wins  the  capital  prize. 
In  the  combination  system,  seventy-five  numbers  are 
placed  in  the  wheel,  and  from  these  a  certain  set  of 
numbers  are  drawn,  in  keeping  with  the  provision  of 
the  scheme.  A  player  to  win,  must  have  the  num- 
bers come  out  in  rotation  as  represented  by  his  ticket. 
All  lotteries  are  frauds.  There  never  was  any  honest 
drawing  and  there  never  will  be.  They  are  forbid- 
den by  the  law. 

There  are  some  five  or  six  hundred  policy  shops  in 
this  city,  and  the  players  are  principally  negroes. 
There  have  been  instances  where  a  man  has  beat  skin 
faro,  or  even  secured  a  prize  in  that  prince  of  frauds, 
the  Louisiana  State  Lottery,  but  no  one  has  ever 
worsted  policy.  It  cannot  be  done  for  the  reason 
that  the  managers  of  the  daily  drawing  first  ascertain 
what  numbers  are  sold  and  then  award  the  prizes  to 
the  numbers  still  on  hand.  The  occupation  of  a  policy 
dealer  is,  if  such  be  possible,  more  dishonorable  than 
that  of  a  highwayman  or  sneak  thief.  Seventy-eight 
numbers  usually  make  up  the  policy  scheme.  The 
player  can  take  any  three  of  the  numbers,  paying  for 
them  whatever  may  be  the  price  of  the  combination, 
from  twenty-five  cents  to  one  dollar.  These  numbers 
to  win,  must  come  out  in  such  combinations  as  he 
selects,  either  single  or  double.    If  a  single  number 


Gambling  Mouses. 


IS  chosen  and  drawn,  the  player  wins  five  for  one. 
Two  numbers  constitute  a  ^'saddle"  and  if  both  are 
drawn  the  player  wins  from  twenty  to  thirty  times 
the  cost  of  his  saddle.  Three  numbers  make  a  gig, 
and  pay  almost  fabulous  sums.  Sometimes  the  mana- 
gers make  a  mistake  an'd  send  out  some  numbers 
which  have  been  drawn.  Such  copies  are  immediate- 
ly recalled  and  non  winning  ones  substituted.  It  is 
impossible  to  beat  policy. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


THE  FIRE  DEPARTMENT, 


HOW  THE  PRESENT  EXCELLENT  SYSTEM  SUPPLANTED  THE  OLD  VOLUN- 
TEER ORGANIZATIONS — STRENGTH  OP  THE  DEPARTMENT — THE  EN- 
GINES, HORSES,  MEN  AND  METHODS  IN  VOGUE — GOVERNMENT  OP 
THE  FORCE. 


HE  act  creating  a  paid  fire  department  was 


teer  companies,  and  created  a  force  under  the  control 
of  commissioners  appointed  by  the  governor.  The 
old  force  was  very  coiTupt  and  unreliable.  The  en- 
gine houses  were  filled  with  loafers  of  every  descrip- 
tion. The  noise  and  confusion  on  the  streets  on  oc- 
casions of  alarm  were  very  great.  Citizens  were 
annoyed,  and  the  sick  and  dying  disturbed,  by  the 
yelling  of  runners  who  attached  themselves  to  the 
engines.  Racing  and  fighting  between  companies 
were  common;  disputes  between  companies  hindered 
operations  at  fires,  and  often  ended  in  blows.  False 
alarms  were  frequent,  to  bring  out  the  machines. 
Thieving  was  generally  practiced  by  hangers-on  who 
got  within  the  lines,  and  runners  meddled  with  the 
duties  of  firemen.  The  organization  of  runners  was 
very  large,  and  very  formidable,  and  very  profitable. 
On  the  coming  in  of  the  new  department  it  was 


It  disbanded  the  volun- 


Fire  Department. 


875 


violently  resisted.  The  constitutionality  of  the  law 
was  tested  in  the  Court  of  Appeals.  When  the  act 
was  sustained  by  the  court,  an  effort  w^as  made  by 
bold  bad  men  to  disband  the  volunteer  organization 
at  once,  and  leave  the  city  without  protection  against 
fire.  In  the  Metropolitan  Police  Department  were 
many  old  firemen,  and  they  were  organized  to  meet 
the  emergency.  From  July  to  November,  1865, 
three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ten  volunteer  fire- 
men were  relieved  from  duty. 

THE  PRESENT  FORCE. 

The  present  ^'ire  Department  is  governed  by  three 
commissioners,  appointed  by  the  Mayor  and  Board  of 
Aldermen,  for  a  period  of  six  years.  The  President 
has  an  annual  salary  of  seven  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars,  and  the  others  of  five  thousand  dollars  each. 
The  Board  appoint  officers  and  members  of  the  de- 
partment and  make  and  enforce  rules.  The  fire  de- 
partment is  divided  into  three  bureaus.  First  is  the 
Bureau  for  preventing  and  extinguishing  fires.  It  is 
under  the  supervision  of  the  chief  of  the  Fire  De- 
partment who  enjoys  an  annual  salary  of  five  thou- 
sand dollars.  Second,  the  Bureau  for  the  enforce- 
ment of  laws  relating  to  the  storage  and  sale  of 
combustibles,  with  an  inspector  in  charge  who  re- 
ceives three  thousand  dollars  per  annum.  Third,  the 
Bureau  for  the  investigation  of  the  origin  and  cause 
of  fires,  conducted  by  the  Fire  Marshal,  with  a  salary 
of  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  a  year.  The 
force  consists  of  a  chief  engineer,  assistant,  twelve 
district  engineers  and  eleven  hundred  officers  and 


376 


Wonders  of  a  Great  Oity. 


men  ;  forty-six  steamers,  six  chemical  engines,  twenty- 
one  hook  and  ladder  trucks  and  four  water  towers, 
and  two  fire  boats.  The  pay  of  the  firemen  is  twelve 
hundred  a  year.  The  uniform  is  dark  blue  cloth. 
The  cost  of  the  Fire  Department  is  about  one  hundred 
thousand  a  month.  The  eno^ines  cost  about  four 
thousand  dollars  each.  They  are  always  ready  for  use. 

The  horses  connected  with  the  fire  department  are 
among  the  most  remarkable  in  New  York.  They  are 
the  best  that  can  be  found,  and  are  selected  with 
great  care  for  the  work.  One  person  is  employed  to 
make  purchases,  and  to  it  he  devates  all  his  time. 
The  docility  and  intelligence  of  the  horses  are  remark; 
able.  They  stand  in  the  stable  always  ready  for  a 
start.  They  are  fed  twice  a  day — at  six  in  the 
morning  and  six  at  night.  The  movement  of  the 
engines  is  regulated  by  telegrams  from  headquarters. 
On  an  alarm  of  fire,  the  station  that  gets  the  notice 
does  not  telegraph  to  other  stations,  but  to  the  head- 
quarters. A  gong  is  attatched  to  every  station 
house,  and  the  ringing  of  that  gong  is  as  well  under- 
stood by  the  horses  as  by  the  men.  As  soon  as  it 
sounds,  the  horses  back  with  a  bound,  and  tear  out 
of  their  stalls  in  a  furious  manner,  rush  to  their  posi- 
tions at  the  engine,  and  are  harnessed  in  an  instant, 
-without  a  word  being  spoken.  If  the  gong  does  not 
sound,  the  word  "Back!"  produces  the  same  effect. 
When  the  alarm  sounds,  the  men  can  be  seen  loiter- 
ing on  benches  or  lying  down.  They  spring  for  their 
caps,  the  horses  rush  for  their  places,  every  part  of 
the  harness  is  fastened  with  a  snap,  and  in  fifteen 
seconds  from  the  time  the  alarm  sounds,  the  men  are 


Fire  Department. 


377 


in  their  places,  horses  are  harnessed,  the  driver  is  in 
his  seat,  the  fire  lighted,  and  the  steamer  on  its  way 
to  the  fire.  After  ten  o'clock  at  night  the  firemen 
are  allowed  to  go  to  bed.  A  strict  watch  is  kept,  and 
but  thirty  seconds  are  needed  to  arouse,  to  harness, 
and  to  get  underway.  The  horses  are  groomed  with 
great  care,  and  are  daily  exercised  when  not  used 
before  the  steamer.  They  are  not  allowed  to  be 
harnessed  or  rode  under  the  saddle,  but  must  be  ex- 
ercised by  walking  gently  before  the  engine  house. 
These  horses,  fiery  and  spirited,  are  so  trained  that 
they  will  stand  all  day  and  all  night  in  the  midst  of 
the  confusion  of  a  fire,  the  crackling  of  the  flames, 
and  the  crash  of  falling  buildings.  The  chief  en- 
gineer has  to  attend  all  fires.  He  keeps  his  horse 
ready  harnessed,  and  when  the  alarm  bell  sounds  he 
knows  exactly  where  the  fire  is,  and  moves  towards 
it  at  once. 

THE  ENGINE  HOUSES. 

These  rooms  are  models  of  neatness,  and  some  of 
them  are  very  elegant  They  are  no  longer  scenes  of 
debauchery  and  dissipation,  nor  are  they  crowded  at 
night  by  herds  of  loafers,  who  lodge  at  the  expense 
of  the  city.  Twelve  men  occupy  the  room.  They 
have  each  a  specific  work  to  do,  which  occupies  their 
time.  The  basement  contains  the  kindling  wood  and 
the  furnace  which  keeps  the  water  in  the  engine  hot. 
On  the  ground  floor  are  the  engine  house  and  the 
stables.  Everything  is  ready  for  a  start.  The  engine 
is  in  perfect  order.  The  kindlings  and  coal  are 
placed  under  the  boiler.    A  swab,  saturated  with  tur- 


378  WONDEES  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


peutine,  lies  on  the  platform  on  which  the  stoker 
stands.    Four  firemen's  caps  hang  on  the  engine. 
They  belong  to  the  engineer,  assistant  engineer,  fire- 
man, and  stoker.    Two  of  these  men  are  always  in 
the  room.  If  the  fireman  goes  to  dinner,  the  engineer 
remains.    If  a  fire  breaks  out  in  his  absence,  he  does 
not  return  to  tlie  engine  house,  but  starts  for  the  fii'e, 
the  alarm  signal  telling  him  where  it  is.    No  fireman 
is  allowed  to  appear  at  the  fire  without  his  cap.  This 
he  will  find  on  the  engine  when  he  reaches  the  con- 
flagration.   A  large  dormitoiy  over  the  engine  room, 
fitted  up  with  every  convenience,  furnishes  the  sleep- 
ing quarters  of  the  men.    Great  care  is  taken  in 
securing  persons  for  the  department.    They  must  be 
in  sound  physical  health,  have  good  moral  characters, 
be  quiet  and  industrious.    No  person  not  a  member 
of  the  force,  without  a  permit  from  headquarters,  i 
allowed  to  enter  the  engine  houses.    The  telegrap 
system  connected  with  these  places  is  as  perfect  as 
can  be  conceived.  The  telegraph  is  under  the  charge 
of  the  foreman.  When  an  alarm  is  telegraphed  fron 
any  station,  it  must  be  repeated,  and  the  number  o 
the  station  house  that  sends  it  given,  or  no  attentio 
is  paid  to  it.    If  it  is  a  false  alarm,  the  foreman  wh 
sent  it  is  held  responsible.    Every  message  is  re 
corded,  with  the  name  of  the  sender.  .No  station 
house  or  engine  house  can  be  certain  when  a  messag 
is  coming,  therefore  they  must  be  continually  on  the 
watch.    If  a  response  is  not  immediate,  an  officer  is' 
sent  to  the  delinquent  station  for  an  explanation. 
While  I  was  at  the  headquarters,  to  show  how  rapidly 
the  communications  were  made,  the  superintenden 


Fire  Department. 


379 


of  the  fire  alarm  called  the  roll  of  every  station,  bell 
tower,  and  engine  house  in  the  district,  including  New 
York,  Harlem,  and  Westchester  County.  Answers 
came  back  from  every  station,  and  the  time  consumed 
in  calling  the  roll  and  getting  returns  was  just  thirty 
seconds. 

The  police  of  the  city  have  charge  of  the  order  to 
be  observed  at  a  fire.  Eopes  are  drawn  at  a  proper 
distance,  and  no  one  allowed  inside  the  lines  except 
the  firemen  and  officials,  who  wear  their  badges  on 
their  coats.  Thieving  and  robbery,  which  were  so 
conspicuous  in  former  times,  and  so  profitable,  do  not 
now  exist.  The  men  are  not  allowed  to  shout,  or 
make  any  demonstrations  on  their  way  to  or  from  the 
fire.  Only  certain  persons  are  allowed  to  ride  on  the 
engine.  Furious  driving  subjects  the  party  to  imme- 
diate arrest,  and  if  repeated,  to  dismissal. 

THE  GOVEKNMENT  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT. 

The  whole  department  is  under  the  charge  of  a 
commission.  Every  department  of  the  force  is  run 
with  military  exactness.  Men  are  tried  for  viola- 
tions of  duty  and  breaches  of  law  before  the  full 
board.  The  officers  are  held  responsible  for  all  the 
property  under  their  care,  and  nothing  is  furnished 
to  them  except  on  a  requisition,  signed  and  counter- 
signed after  the  regulation  of  the  army.  Rules  are 
laid  down  for  the  exercise  and  drill  of  the  horses, 
their  grooming,  when  they  should  be  fed,  and  what 
shall  be  given  to  them.  The  men  are  drilled  and  ex- 
ercised in  everything  that  pertains  to  their  duty. 
They  are  daily  exercised  in  the  manner  of  hitching 


380 


Wonders  of  a  Ore  at  City, 


up  the  horses  to  the  apparatus,  which,  exercise,  with 
the  intelligence  and  intuition  of  the  horses,  enables 
this  to  be  done  in  a  time  so  slight  as  to  seem  incred- 
ible. New  York  may,  indeed,  congratulate  herself 
upon  having  one  of  the  most  complete,  efficient,  and 
well  disciplined  fire  departments  in  the  world. 

The  recent  addition  of  several  steam  fire  engines 
has  greatly  increased  the  efficiency  of  the  force.  The 
department  has  been  extended  to  Morrisania  and  be- 
yond to  cover  the  new  territory  in  Westchester  Coun- 
ty annexed  to  the  city.  The  department  as  now  or- 
ganized is  probably  superior  to  that  of  London  or 
Paris.  With  the  insurance  patrol  as  well  as 
the  police,  precautions  against  fire  are  now  more  care- 
ful than  ever.  The  telegraph  alarm,  and  the  fre- 
quency of  district  telegraph  offices,  with  their  private 
connections  Avith  stores,  hotels,  and  dwelling  houses, 
make  it  easy  to  summon  assistance  at  the  very  out- 
break of  a  fire,  before  it  can  make  much  headway. 
The  days  of  great  sweeping  fires  in  New  York  seem 
to  be  over,  and  the  damage  generally  is  confined  to 
the  building  or  block  in  which  the  fire  originates. 
The  department  and  its  workings  have  been  examined 
by  deputations  from  all  over  the  country,  and  the 
local  organizations  of  most  American  cities  are  mod- 
eled upon  the  fire  department  of  New  York 


CHAPTER  XXrV. 


FIEST  DIVISION  NATIONAL  GUAED. 

FORMATION  OF  THE  DIVISION.  —  THE  MILITARY  AS  A  POLICE  FORCE.  — 
THE  MILITARY  AND  RIOTS. — THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  AND  THE  ASTOR 
PLACE  RIOT.  —  MAYOR  WOOD's  RIOT. — AN  EPISODE. — THE  FINALE.— 
FIRST  DIVISION  AND  THE  WAR.  —  PRESIDENTIAL  RECEPTION.  —  THE 
PARADES. 

NEW  YORK  has  always  had  occasion  to  be 
proud  of  her  military  organizations.  Since 
the  Revolution  there  has  been  a  corps  of  volunteer 
soldiers,  on  whom  the  authorities  have  relied  to  en- 
force law  and  preserve  peace.  For  many  years  New 
York  was  without  police.  A  few  watchmen  patrolled 
the  streets  at  night,  most  of  whom  were  laboring 
men  through  the  day,  and  added  to  their  scanty  in- 
come by  guarding  the  city  at  night.  In  all  cases  of 
brawls,  riots,  and  all  disturbances  of  the  peace,  the 
magistrates  relied  entirely  upon  the  military.  This 
force  were  voluntary  soldiers,  in  every  sense  of  the 
word.  They  purchased  their  own  uniforms,  when 
they  had  any,  and  their  arms  and  equipments.  They 
paid  for  their  armories,  and  the  expenses  for  music 
and  parades  were  borne  by  an  assessment  on  each 
member.  Yet  for  eighty  years  the  city  military  has 
been  sustained,  and  when  the  new  organization  took 
place  in  1862,  the  volunteer  city  troops  numbered 


382 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


thirteen  thousand  men,  some  of  them  in  the  highest 
state  of  discipline,  with  expensive  armories,  uniforms, 
and  equipments,  and  the  whole  division  was 
unequalled  by  any  volunteer  organization  in  the 
world. 

FORMATIOI^  OF  THE  DIVISION. 

At  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war  the  city 
troops  were  organized  as  artillery,  and  were  desig- 
nated as  the  First  Division  of  Artillery.  The  com- 
mandant had  under  him  all  the  ununiformed  militia 
of  the  city.  Till  1867  there  had  been  only  three  com- 
manders of  this  division :  General  Stephens,  who 
organized  the  division  of  artillery.  General  Morton, 
and  General  Sanford.  General  Sanford  held  his  posi- 
tion for  thirty  years,  and  was  the  oldest  commissioned 
officer  in  the  state.  In  1846  the  old  military  system 
was  abolished,  and  the  nrst  division  of  uniformed 
troops  created.  The  commander  of  the  First  Divi- 
sion of  Artillery,  outranking  all  others,  took  command 
of  the  new  military  district,  including  the  city  and 
county  of  New  York,  with  Staten  Island.  In  1862 
the  law  was  again  changed,  and  the  city  troops  be- 
came the  First  Division  of  the  National  Guard.  It 
is  composed  of  four  brigades,  and  musters  thirteen 
thousand  men.  Under  the  new  construction  the  arms 
and  uniform  are  provided  by  the  United  States.  The 
city  of  New  York  approi:)riates  five  hundred  dollars 
a  year  to  each  regiment  for  an  armory.  Parades, 
music,  and  other  expenses  are  borne  by  the  troops. 
To  keep  such  a  body  of  men  together,  to  subject  them 
to  the  proper  drill  and  discipline,  to  make  them  bear 


The  National  Guard.  383 


their  own  expenses,  whicli  the  First  Division  has 
done  for  eighty  years,  to  keep  the  peace  at  all  hazards 
and  under  all  forms  of  excitement,  to  quell  riots, 
shoot  down  their  fellow  citizens  when  ordered  so  to 
do,  to  take  their  lives  in  their  hands  w^hen  called 
upon  by  their  commanding  officer  to  expose  them- 
selves,— to  do  this  because  they  choose  to  do  it,  and 
to  uphold  the  laws  on  all  occasions,  reflects  great 
credit  on  the  commanding  general  and  the  troops. 

THE  MILITARY  AS  A  POLICE  FORCE. 

Till  the  coming  in  of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  the 
city  troops  held  the  quiet  of  New  York  in  their 
hands.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  riots,  the  city 
has  always  been  celebrated  for  its  good  order  and 
quietness.  It  is  full  of  desperate  men,  ready  for 
plunder,  robbery  and  arson.  It  is  the  headquarters 
of  the  crime  of  the  country.  It  is  easy  to  hide  in  the 
multitude  of  our  people.  The  dens,  dark  chambers, 
underground  rooms,  narrow  alleys  and  secret  retreats, 
render  criminals  more  safe  in  the  city  tlian  in  any 
other  part  of  the  land.  But  for  the  presence  of  the 
military  nothing  would  be  safe.  Banks  would  be 
plundered,  men  robbed  in  the  streets ;  no  man  could 
sleep  safely  on  his  own  pillow;  property  and  life 
would  be  as  insecure  as  they  were  in  Sodom.  There 
is  something  very  remarkable  about  the  New  York 
military.  It  represents  every  phase  of  life,  from  the 
highest  to  the  lowest.  It  embraces  every  nationality. 
The  Seventh  Regiment  is  essentially  New  York. 
The  Sixty-ninth  is  wholly  Irish.    In  the  time  of  the 


384 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City, 


Know-No  thing  movement,  the  Seventy-first  Regiment 
became  American,  par  excellence,  and  no  man  was 
allowed  to  join  it  unless  he  was  born  of  American 
parents.  Besides  this,  there  were  German  regiments, 
regiments  heterogeneous,  regiments  composed  mainly 
of  Jews;  yet  the  whole  division  has  been  a  unit  in 
preserving  public  peace  and  enforcing  law.  Ques- 
tions have  come  up  that  have  agitated  the  whole 
community,  and  men  have  risen  against  the  law. 
From  thirty  to  fifty  thousand  men  have  filled  the 
Park,  defying  the  authorities,  and  threatening  to 
destroy  public  property;  Wall  street  has  been 
crowded  with  maddened  men,  assembled  to  tear  down 
the  banks;  mobs  have  gathered  on  political  ques- 
tions,— and  on  every  one  of  these  exciting  topics  the 
city  troops  have  had  as  much  direct  interest,  or  in- 
direct, as  any  of  the  rioters,  and,  as  individuals,  have 
been  as  much  excited;  yet,  as  soldiers,  they  have 
never  shrunk  from  their  duty.  They  have  promptly 
obeyed  every  call  of  their  ofiicers,  have  been  under 
arms  night  and  day  for  many  days,  placed  their  can- 
non in  the  street  when  ordered  to  do  so,  and  were  as 
reliable  in  any  crisis  as  if  they  had  no  interest  in  the 
city  and  not  a  friend  in  the  world.  There  is  not  a 
rogue  in  the  Union  that  does  not  know  that  should 
he  overpower  the  civil  authorities,  a  few  sharp  taps 
on  the  City  Hall  bell  would  bring  ten  thousand  bay 
onets  to  the  support  of  law;  and  that  the  city  troops 
would  lay  down  their  lives  as  quickly  to  preserve  the 
peace  as  they  would  to  defend  the  nation's  flag  on 
the  battle-field. 


The  National  Guard.  385 


THE  MILITARY  AND  RIOTS. 

One  of  tlie  earliest  riots  was  known  as  the  Aboli- 
tion riot,  in  wliicli  the  houses  and  stores  of  leading 
abolitionists  were  attacked  and  sacked.  The  military 
were  called  out,  and  a  general  conflagration  pre- 
vented. During  the  great  fire  in  1836,  which  swept 
all  New  York,  from  Wall  street  to  the  Battery,  and 
from  Broad  street  to  the  water,  the  military  were  on 
duty  three  days  and  three  nights.  The  day  Mayor 
Clark  was  sworn  into  office,  he  received  a  letter  from 
the  presidents  of  the  city  banks,  informing  him  that 
the  banks  were  to  suspend  specie  payments,  and  that 
they  feared  a  riot.  The  mayor  was  terribly  frightened, 
and  sent  for  General  Sanford,  who  assured  the  mayor 
that  he  could  keep  the  peace.  The  next  morning 
Wall  street  was  packed  with  people,  who  threatened 
to  tear  down  the  banks  and  get  at  the  specie.  The 
First  Division  was  called  out.  There  was  probably 
not  a  man  in  that  corps  who  was  not  as  excited,  per- 
sonally, as  the  maddened  throng  that  surged  through 
the  streets;  yet  not  a, man  shrank  from  his  duty,  or 
refused  to  obey  his  commander.  The  First  Division 
were  marched  to  the  head  of  Wall  street,  except  the 
cavalry,  who  were  stationed  around  the  banks  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  city.  General  Sanford  planted  his 
cannon  on  the  flagging  in  front  of  Trinity  Church. 
The  cannon  commanded  the  whole  of  Wall  street. 
He  then  sent  word  to  the  rioters  that  his  fuse  was 
lighted,  and  on  the  first  outbreak  he  should  fire  upon 
the  rioters,  and  that  peaceable  citizens  had  better  get 
out  of  the  way.    The  announcement  operated  like 


386 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


magic,  and  in  a  few  minutes  tliere  was  not  a  corporal's 
guard  left  in  the  vicinity  of  the  banks.  The  citizens 
knew  that  the  troops  Avould  do  their  duty,  and  that 
silent  park  of  artillery  was  an  efficient  peace  corps. 

THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  AND  ASTOR  PLACE  RIOT. 

This  famous  corps,  of  which  the  city  has  always 
been  so  justly  proud,  came  prominently  into  notice 
during  the  Astor  Place  riots.  As  the  military  was 
composed  of  citizens  taken  from  the  banks,  stores, 
shops,  and  places  of  mechanical  toil,  people  regarded 
the  troops  rather  as  holiday  soldiers  than  men  organ- 
ized for  sanguinary  conflicts.  Within  the  lifetime  of 
the  generation  that  organized  the  riot,  the  troops  had 
never  come  in  contact  with  the  citizens.  It  was  not 
believed  that  they  would  fire  on  their  friends  if 
ordered  so  to  do,  and  the  threats  to  call  out  the  mil- 
itary were  received  with  derision.  If  called  out,  it 
was  presumed  that  they  would  fraternize  with  the 
people.  The  friends  of  Macready,  the  English  actor, 
and  of  Forrest,  had  succeeded  in  creating  a  high  state 
of  excitement  about  these  two  men.  Clinton  Hall 
was  then  an  opera  house.  Macready  had  an  engage- 
ment, and  was  to  appear  in  that  place.  A  riot  en- 
sued. The  Seventh  Regiment  was  called  out  to 
quell  it.  They  marched  to  their  position,  and,  in 
obedience  to  orders,  they  fired  on  the  mob.  From 
that  moment  they  took  their  high  place  in  the  confi- 
dence of  our  citizens  as  the  conservators  of  peace, 
which  position  they  have  never  lost.  Their  disci- 
pline, soldierly  bearing,  full  ranks,  and  splendid 
marching,  have  been  the  theme  of  universal  praise. 


iVational  Guard. 


387 


On  the  first  visit  of  the  corps  to  Boston,  the  Boston- 
ians  received  with  much  allowance  the  eulogiums  on 
this  fine  corps.  On  reaching  the  city,  an  immense 
concourse  greeted  the  regiment  at  the  station,  and 
followed  it  to  the  Common,  where  thousands  of  citi- 
zens were  gathered  to  look  on  the  soldiers,  the  boast 
of  New  York.  The  regiment  formed  in  line  on  the 
great  mall.  The  mighty  concourse  were  hushed  to 
silence,  as  not  an  order  was  given.  The  regiment 
stood  in  exact  line,  like  statues.  Soon  the  clear, 
ringing  tones  of  the  commander  shouted  out  the  com- 
mand, "Order — arms!"  Down  came  every  gun.  as 
if  moved  by  machinery.  Boston  was  satisfied. 
Shouts,  bravoes,  and  clapping  of  hands  rent  the  air. 
With  the  second  order,  "  Parade — rest!"  the  regiment 
was  nearly  swallowed  up  alive. 

MAYOR  wood's  RIOT. 

On  the  formation  of  the  Metropolitan  Police,  with 
Simeon  Draper  at  its  head.  Mayor  Wood  organized 
an  armed  resistance  to  the  force.  He  shut  himself 
up  in  the  City  Hall,  closed  the  iron  gates,  and  filled 
the  inside  of  the  hall  with  the  old  police,  with  Mat- 
sell  at  its  head,  gave  orders  to  resist  unto  blood,  and 
to  admit  no  one.  Recorder  Smith  had  issued  war- 
rants for  the  arrest  of  the  mayor,  and  the  new  police, 
under  Captain  Carpenter,  were  ordered  to  serve  the 
warrants.  The  Park  contained  no  less  than  thirty 
thousand  men,  the  larger  part  of  whom  were  friends 
of  Wood,  and  were  resolved  to  sustain  him  in  his  re- 
sistance to  the  new  order  of  things.  Wood's  police 
were  armed  with  clubs  and  revolvers,  with  orders  to 


388  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


use  both  if  it  was  necessary  to  resist  an  entrance  into 
City  Hall.  The  location  of  the  new  commissioners 
was  in  White  street,  and  their  friends  were  assembled 
in  full  force  around  their  quarters,  as  "Wood's  friends 
were  assembled  in  the  Park.  The  day  before.  Gen- 
eral Sanfordhad  served  a  warrant  on  Mr.  Wood,  and 
the  understanding  was  that  all  warrants  from  the 
new  commission  should  be  served  through  the  com- 
mandant of  the  First  Division.  Under  the  notion  of 
vindicating  the  law,  two  additional  warrants  were 
issued,  which  the  commissioners  resolved  to  have 
served  on  Wood  by  their  own  men.  The  attempt 
would  have  been  madness.  The  officers  would  never 
have  reached  the  City  Hall  steps.  They  would  have 
been  pounded  to  jelly  by  the  maddened  men  who 
filled  the  Park,  who  were  yelling,  screaming,  shouting, 
frenzied  with  excitement  and  bad  whiskey,  and  cheer- 
ing for  "Fernandy  Wud. " 

General  Sanford  had  fifteen  thousand  men  under 
arms.  His  cannon  commanded  both  White  street 
and  the  City  Park.  He  went  to  the  commissioners 
in  White  street,  and  reminded  them  of  the  agree- 
ment that  all  warrants  should  be  served  through  him  ; 
that  if  the  new  police  undertook  to  serve  papers,  they 
not  only  would  be  destroyed,  but  that  the  lives  of  a 
thousand  men  would  be  taken  before  peace  could  be 
restored.  "Better  a  thousand  lives  lost,  than  that 
the  dignity  of  the  law  be  not  upheld,"  said  the  com- 
missioners. "Perhaps  so,"  replied  the  general,  "if 
you  and  I  are  not  among  the  slain. " 


National  Guard, 


389 


AN  EPISODE. 

While  these  scenes  were  being  transacted  with  the 
new  commissioners,  an  interesting  episode  occurred,  in 
which  the  Seventh  Regiment  bore  an  important  part. 
That  regiment  had  accepted  an  invitation  to  accom- 
pany Governor  King  to  Boston,  and  participate  in 
the  celebration  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  March- 
ing down  Broadway  to  embark,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  halt  in  front  of  the  City  Hall  to  aid  Gen- 
eral Sanford  in  serving  a  w^arrant  on  Mayor  Wood. 
The  general  entered  the  City  Hall  in  company  wath 
the  sheriff,  served  the  warrant,  and  left  the  mayor  in 
charge  of  that  officer.  Supposing  the  difficulty  was 
over,  the  regiment  were  allowed  to  embark  for  Boston. 
Considering  that  their  dignity  had  been  lowered  by 
the  aid  General  Sanford  rendered,  the  commissioners 
the  next  day  got  out  two  additional  warrants  (to 
which  allusion  has  been  made),  which  they  were 
resolved  the  civil  force  should  serve.  General  San- 
ford told  the  commissioners  that  they  could  not  serve 
them,  and  that  he  should  not  allow  them  to  be  served. 
"And  how  can  you  prevent  it?"  said  the  commis- 
sioners. "I  have  cannon  in  the  streets,  and  troops 
under  my  command,  and  I  shall  use  both  if  it  is 
necessary.  I  will  not  allow  the  peace  of  the  city  to 
be  broken. "  "  Well, "  said  the  commissioners,  "  we'll 
have  a  force  here  very  soon  who  will  protect  us,  and 
j  authority  that  will  outrank  you. "  Taking  the  hint, 
General  Sanford  went  to  the  telegraph  office  and 
sent  a  telegram  to  the  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment, to  the  purport,  "Stay  where  you  are;  finish 
your  visit.    You  are  not  needed  in  New  York. " 


390  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Previous  to  this  a  telegram  had  been  sent  to  Gov- 
ernor King,  signed  by  the  new  commissioners,  to 
which  was  added  the  name  of  the  brigadier  general 
of  the  First  Division.  The  purport  was,  Re  turn 
immediately,  and  bring  with  you  the  Seventh  Regi- 
ment. "  Governor  King  received  the  telegram  just 
as  he  arose  to  make  a  speech  under  the  marquee  on 
Bunker  Hill.  He  supposed  New  York  was  in  the 
hands  of  rioters.  He  had  no  doubt  but  that  General 
Sanford  was  killed,  as  his  name  was  not  on  the  tele- 
gram,while  that  of  a  subordinate  officer  was.  Greatly 
excited,  Governor  King  left  the  tent,  gave  orders  for 
the  immediate  return  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  took 
the  noon  train,  and  reached  New  York  at  eleven  at 
night.  The  regiment  immediately  marched  out,  and 
descended  the  hill  on  their  way  home.  At  the  foot 
of  Bunker  Hill  they  were  met  by  General  Sanford's 
order,  countermarched,  and  went  back  to  their  festiv- 
ities. 

THE  FmALE. 

After  assuring  the  commissioners  that  they  would 
not  be  allowed  to  attempt  to  serve  the  warrants, 
General  Sanford  took  Captain  Carpenter  and  Captain 
Leonard  by  the  arm,  and  walked  up  to  the  City  Hall. 
Wood  had  not  resisted  the  sheriff.  He  recognized 
General  Sanford's  authority,  but  said  he  would  not 
have  a  warrant  served  on  him  Avhile  he  was  alive  by 
any  member  of  the  new  police  force.  The  crowd 
was  so  dense  in  the  park  that  a  lane  had  to  be  made 
for  the  officers,  and  they*  went  single  file  up  to  the 
iron  gates.  Matsell  was  in  charge.  General  Sanford 
announced  his  coming,  who  his  companions  were,  and 


The  National  Guard.  391 


what  their  business  was.  They  had  come  from  the 
Police  Commission  to  serve  warrants  on  Mayor  Wood. 
The  general  ordered  the  gates  to  be  opened,  or  he 
would  batter  them  down  with  his  cannon.  Matsell 
reported  the  order  to  Mayor  Wood,  and  he  ordered 
the  gates  to  be  opened  and  the  gentlemen  admitted. 
They  found  the  mayor  in  his  private  office,  attended 
by  his  counsel,  Judge  Dean.  He  was  as  bland  as  a 
summer's  morning,  was  very  glad  to  see  his  friends, 
had  the  warrants  examined  by  his  counsel,  who  pro- 
nounced them  all  right ;  and,  though  he  said  he  would 
resist  unto  death,  he  was  very  tame  in  his  submission. 
The  mayor  was  ordered  to  send  away  the  police  force 
from  the  City  Hall,  which  he  immediately  did.  This 
being  done,  the  gates  of  the  City  Hall  were  thrown 
back,  and  the  crowd  quietly  dispersed.  Governor 
King  sought  an  interview  afterwards  wath  General 
Sanford,  and  thanked  him  for  his  wise  measures  in 
preserving  the  peace  of  the  city.  The  1863  riots 
transpired  during  the  absence  of  the  military  from 
the  state.  Had  the  city  troops  not  been  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, that  flagrant  outrage  would  not  have  been 
attempted. 

FIEST  DIVISION  AND  THE  WAE. 

Every  regiment  in  the  First  Division,  through  its 
colonel,  offered  its  services  to  defend  the  capital 
when  it  was  supposed  to  be  in  danger.  The  Seventh 
Eegiment  was  the  first  to  march  out  of  the  city.  It 
was  immediately  joined  by  the  leading  regiments, 
who  remained  in  the  field  as  long  as  their  services 
were  needed.  Over  one  hundred  thousand  men  went 
from  this  city  to  the  support  of  our  flag  during  the 


892 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


war.  Nine  thousand  na'eii  at  one  time  have  been  in 
tlie  field  in  connection  with  the  First  Division.  Three 
thousand  seven  hundi-ed  and  eighty  officers  were  in 
the  conflict  who  had  belonged  to  the  First  Division 
of  our  city  troops.  They  Avere  in  command  of  regi- 
ments raised  in  all  parts  of  the  countiy. 

PKESIDENTIAL  RECEPTION. 

It  has  been  usual  for  the  First  Division  to  tender  a 
reception  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  on  his 
first  official  visit  to  New  York.  This  has  been  done 
since  the  days  of  General  Jackson.  On  his  way  to 
the  tomb  of  Douglas,  President  Johnson  passed 
through  New  York.  The  First  Division  tendered 
him  the  usual  escort.  The  courtesy  gave  great  offence 
to  many  of  our  citizens,  and  shortly  after  General 
Sanford  was  removed,  as  his  friends  say,  for  tender- 
ing the  escort  to  President  Johnson  and  his  suite. 
The  division  has  never  been  political,  and  never  can 
be  while  it  retains  its  efficiency  as  a  military  organiz- 
tion 

PAEADES. 

There  is  no  public  recreation  afforded  to  our  citi- 
zens that  gives  such  genuine  and  general  pleasure  as 
the  parade  of  the  division.  Thirteen  thousand  men 
under  arms,  handsomely  uniformed  and  equipped, 
with  banners,  music  and  display,  are  an  attractive 
sight.  Broadway  is  cleared.  The  city  for  miles 
sends  its  tribute  to  the  pavement.  Thousands  look 
on  the  pleasant  sight,  and  the  troops  are  cheered 
through  the  Avhole  line.  There  is  in  no  part  of  the 
world  so  fine  a  volunteer  corps.  When  it  was  pro- 
posed to  send  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  New  York  to 


The  National  Guard. 


393 


the  Exhibition  at  Paris,  as  a  specimen  of  our  volun- 
teer military,  the  idea  was  derided.  France,  it  was 
said,  is  a  nation  of  soldiers,  and  we  would  simply 
make  ourselves  ridiculous  in  sending  young  men  from 
the  warehouse,  the  office,  and  from  trade,  dressed 
up  in  uniform,  as  a  specimen  of  American  soldiers. 
The  crowned  heads  of  Europe  would  laugh  at  our  raw 
troops,  when  compared  with  the  standing  armies  of 
the  Old  World.  But  the  Seventh  Regiment  would 
have  created  a  sensation  in  Paris.  The  men  in  the 
British  army  are  very  small.  The  government  has 
been  obliged  to  lower  the  standard  of  size  to  get 
men  to  serve  at  all.  The  soldiers  in  the  French  army 
look  stunted.  The  nation  seems  to  have  been  swept 
to  put  dwarfs  in  uniform.  In  discipline,  military 
drill,  precision,  and  soldierly  movements,  neither  the 
French  nor  English  soldiers  will  compare  with  our 
first-class  regiments.  The  First  Division  embraces 
the  most  vigorous,  liberal,  and  noble-hearted  of  our 
citizens.  Smart,  energetic  men,  whether  merchant  or 
mechanic,  with  shrewd  and  successful  young  men, 
are  found  in  the  National  Guard.  Whatever  they 
undertake  is  a  success.  A  concert,  a  fair,  a  testi- 
monial, or  a  lecture,  if  they  take  hold  of  it,  is  sure  to 
succeed.  If  any  one  w^ants  aid  or  assistance,  and  can 
enlist  the  sympathies  of  the  military,  money  is 
poured  out  like  water.  Our  citizen  soldiery  are  the 
great  conservative  element  of  our  community,  the 
guardians  of  law,  and  the  true  bond  of  unity  between 
the  different  sections  of  our  country. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


LIFE  AMONG  THE  LOWLY. 


HOMES  OF  THE  IMPOVERISHED. — A  NIGHT  TRAMP. — BAREFOOTED  BEGGAR 
— A  STREET  BOY.— A  SAD  SCENE. — GENTEEL  SUFFERING. — PARK  LODG- 
ERS AND  THEIR  METHODS — HOMES  FOR  SEAMEN — THE  BEGGAR's  REVEL. 


HE  extreme  value  of  land  in  the  city  makes 


cupy  a  lot  twenty -iive  by  one  hundred  feet,  six  stories 
high,  with  apartments  for  four  families  on  each  floor. 
These  houses  resemble  barracks  more  than  dwellings 
for  families.  One  standing  on  a  lot  fifty  by  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  has  apartments  for  one  hundred 
and  twenty-six  families.  Nearly  all  the  apartments 
are  so  situated  that  the  sun  can  never  touch  the  win- 
dows. In  a  cloudy  day  it  is  impossible  to  have  sun- 
light enough  to  read  or  see.  A  narrow  room  and 
bedroom  comprise  an  apartment.  Families  keep 
boarders  in  these  narrow  quarters.  Two  or  three 
families  live  in  one  apartment  frequently.  Not  one 
of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  rooms  can  be 
properly  ventilated.  The  vaults  and  water-closets 
are  disgusting  and  shameful.  They  are  accessible 
not  only  to  the  five  or  six  hundred  occupants  of  the 
building,  but  to  all  who  choose  to  go  in  from  the 
street.  The  water-closets  are  without  doors,  and 
privacy  is  impossible.    Into  these  vaults  every  ini- 


necessity.    Usually  they  oc- 


Life  Among  the  Lowly. 


395 


aginable  abomination  is  poured.  The  doors  from  the 
cellar  open  into  the  vault,  and  the  whole  house  is  im- 
pregnated with  stench  that  would  poison  cattle.  ^ 

A  NIGHT  TEAMP. 

With  a  lantern  and  an  officer,  a  visit  to  the  cellars 
where  the  poor  of  New  York  sleep  may  be  under- 
taken with  safety.  Fetid  odors  and  pestiferous  smells 
greet  you  as  you  descend.  Their  bunks  are  built  on 
the  side  of  the  room;  beds  filthier  than  can  be  imagined, 
and  crowded  with  occupants.  No  regard  is  paid  to 
age  or  sex.  Men,  women,  and  children  are  huddled 
together  in  one  disgusting  mass.  Without  a  breath 
of  air  from  without,  these  holes  are  hot-beds  of  pesti- 
lence. The  landlord  was  asked,  in  one  cellar,  "  How 
many  can  you  lodge?"  "  We  can  lodge  twenty-five'; 
if  we  crowd,  perhaps  thirty." 

The  lodgers  in  these  filthy  dens  seem  to  be  lost  to 
all  moral  feeling,  and  to  all  sense  of  shame.  They 
are  not  as  decent  as  the  brutes  Drunken  men,  de- 
based women,  young  girls,  helpless  children,  are 
packed  together  in  a  filthy  under-ground  room,  desti- 
tute of  light  or  ventilation,  reeking  with  filth,  and 
surrounded  with  a  poisoned  atmosphere.  The  decen- 
cies of  life  are  abandoned,  and  blasphemy  and  rib- 
ald talk  fill  the  place. 

BAEEFOOTED  BEGGAE. 

On  one  of  the  coldest  days  of  winter  two  girls  were 
seen  on  Broadway  soliciting  alms.  The  larger  of  the 
two  awakened  sympathy  by  her  destitute  appearance. 
An  old  hood  covered  her  head,  a  miserable  shawl  her 


396  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


shoulders.  Her  shivering  form  was  enveloped  in  a 
nearly  worn-out  dress,  which  was  very  short,  exposing 
the  lower  part  of  her  limbs  and  feet.  She  had  on 
neither  shoes  nor  stockings.  Nearly  every  person 
that  passed  the  girl  gave  her  something.  Believing 
they  were  impostors,  Mr.  Halliday  approached  them, 
and  demanded  w^here  they  lived.  On  being  told,  he 
proposed  to  attend  them  home.  They  misled  him  as 
to  their  residence.  They  attempted  to  elude  him, 
and  at  length  the  younger  said,  "Mister,  there  is  no 
use  going  any  farther  this  way  ;  she  don't  live  on 
Fifty 'third  street,  she  lives  on  Twelfth  street,  and  she 
has  got  shoes  and  stockings  under  her  shawl."  She 
was  taken  before  a  magistrate,  and  committed  to  the 
Juvenile  Asylum. 

A  STREET  BOY, 

It  is  estimated  that  there  are  over  ten  thousand 
street  boys  in  New  York.  They  swarm  along  our 
parks,  markets,  and  landings,  stealing  sugar,  molasses, 
cotton.  They  steal  anything  they  can  lay  their  hands 
on.  They  prowl  through  the  streets,  ready  for  mis- 
chief. Mrc  Halliday  gives  an  interesting  account  of 
one  of  this  class.  He  was  the  son  of  a  widow.  He 
played  truant,  and  became  a  regular  young  vagabond. 
He  Avas  one  of  the  young  Arabs  of  the  cifcy.  Mr. 
Halliday  resolved  to  save  him.  He  introduced  him  to 
the  Home  of  the  Friendless.  He  ran  away,  and  re- 
sumed his  arab  life.  He  was  sought  for,  and  found 
on  one  of  the  wharves.  The  following  dialogue  took 
place  :  "Where  have  you  been,  Willie  V'  "Nowhere, 
sir."  "What  have  you  been  doing  since  you  ran  away 


Life  Among  the  Lowly. 


397 


°      from  the  Home  ?"    "Nothing,  sir. "  "What  have  you 
had  to  eat?"    "Nothing,  sir,"    "What!   have  you 
eaten  nothing  these  two  days  ?"    "No,  sir."  "What 
I      was  that  that  fell  out  of  your  hand  just  now  when 
I      you  struck  against  your  brother  ? "    "A  soda  water 
'     bottle."    "Where  did  you  get  it?"    "I  stole  it." 
"What  were  you  going  to  do  with  it?"    "  Sell  it." 
'^What  were  you  going  to  do  with  the  money?" 
"Buy  something  to  eat."  "Are  you  hungry?"  "Yes, 
sir."    "Wliere  have  you  staid  since  you  left  the 
Home?"    "On  Tenth  street,"    "Whose  house  did 
you  stay  in?"     "Nobody's."     "No  one's  house?" 

I"  No,  sir."  It  had  rained  very  hard  the  night  pre- 
vious, and  I  asked  again,  "  Where  did  you  stay  last 
night?"  "Corner  of  Avenue  A  and  Tenth  street." 
"  Whose  house  did  you  stay  in  ?"  "  No  one's."  "  But 
you  told  me  just  now  you  stopped  last  night  corner 
of  Avenue  A  and  Tenth  street."  "  So  I  did. "  "  And 
you  slept  in  no  one's  house?"  "No,  sir."  "Where 
did  you  sleep,  then  ?"  "  In  a  sugar  box."  "  In  a 
sugar  box  ?"  "  Yes,  sir."  "  How  did  you  get  your 
clothes  dry  ?"  "  Stood  up  in  the  sun  until  they  were 
dry."  He  was  again  placed  in  the  Home  of  the 
Friendless ;  again  ran  away ;  and  finally  was  put 
into  the  Refuge,  as  all  kindness  seemed  to  be  lost 
upon  him. 

A  SAD  SCENE. 

In  the  so-called  chapel  of  the  prison  sits  a  little  girl 
amid  a  throng  of  dirty,  drunken  women.  She  is  small, 
and  only  seven  years  of  age.  Her  story  is  told  in  a 
single  line — her  father  is  in  the  Tombs,  her  mother  is 


398  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


at  the  station  house.  What  she  calls  her  home  is  a 
single  room,  nine  feet  under  ground,  without  fire, 
though  the  thermometer  is  at  zero.  A  portion  of  an 
old  bedstead,  a  broken  tick  part  full  of  straw,  with 
a  pillow,  on  which  are  marks  of  blood,  lies  upon  the 
floor.  The  father  was  a  cartman.  He  came  home 
one  night  drunk  and  brutal,  and  knocked  his  wife 
down  with  a  heavy  stick.  Afterwards  he  stamped 
upon  her  with  his  heavy  boots,  until  she  was  unable 
to  speak.  The  woman  died,  and  the  man  was  ar- 
rested. The  little  girl  was  sent  to  the  Tombs  as  a 
witness,  and  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  matron. 
When  the  trial  came  on,  it  was  decided  that  the  little 
girl  was  too  young  to  testify.  The  man  pleaded 
guilty  of  manslaughter,  and  was  sent  to  the  State 
Prison.  It  was  a  happy  day  for  little  Katy  when 
she  sat  on  the  bench  with  those  miserable  women 
hearing  a  sermon  preached.  She  found  a  kind  friend 
in  Mr.  Halliday,  and  through  him  obtained  a  happy 
western  home. 

GENTEEL  SUFFEKITfG. 

Sudden  reverses  reduce  well-to-do  people  to  poverty. 
Sickness  comes  into  a  household  like  an  armed  man. 
Death  strikes  down  a  father,  and  leaves  a  family 
penniless.  One  day  a  lady  of  very  genteel  a2:>pear- 
ance  called  at  the  Mission.  Bursting  into  tears,  she 
said  to  the  superintendent,  "  Sir,  I  have  come  to  ask 
for  assistance.  It  is  the  first  time  in  my  life.  I 
would  not  now,  but  I  have  been  driven  to  it.  I  could 
bear  hunger  and  cold  myself,  but  I  could  not  hear 
my  children  cry  for  bread.    For  twenty-four  hours  I 


Life  Among  the  Lowly. 


399 


have  not  had  a  mouthful  for  myself  or  them.  While 
there  was  work,  I  could  get  along  tolerably  well.  I 
have  had  none  for  some  time ;  now  I  must  beg,  or  my 
children  starve. "  Her  husband  had  been  a  mechanic. 
He  had  come  to  New  York  from  the  country.  The 
family  lived  in  comfort  till  sickness  stopped  their 
resources,  and  death  struck  the  father  down.  The 
mother  attempted  to  keep  her  little  family  together, 
and  support  them  by  her  own  labor.  Five  years  she 
had  toiled,  planned  and  suifered.  Her  earnings  were 
small,  and  from  time  to  time  she  sold  articles  of 
furniture  to  give  her  children  bread.  Over  exertion, 
long  walks  in  rain  and  cold  to  obtain  work,  insufficient 
clothing,  want  of  nutritious  food,  with  anxiety  for  her 
children,  prostrated  her.  She  was  obliged  to  call  for 
aid  on  some  of  our  benevolent  institutions.  She  is  a 
specimen  of  hundreds  of  noble  suffering  women  in 
New  York. 

Public  attention  has  lately  been  called  to  the  filthy 
and  overcrowded  pest  houses  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
city,  and  the  result  has  been  a  great  improvement  in 
many  of  the  old  tenements,  and  the  erection  of  sev- 
eral model  lodging  houses,  which  afford  clean  and 
comfortable  quarters  for  laborers  and  mechanics,  at 
comparatively  reasonable  rates  of  rent. 

PARK  LODGEES. 

One  class  of  unfortunates  among  the  lowly  are 
those  who  have  descended  so  low  that  they  are  unable 
to  aiford  even  a  miserable  tenement  hovel,  and  are 
obliged  to  sleep  in  bar  rooms  and  hallways  during 
the  winter,  and  the  parks  in  spring,  summer  and 


400  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


autumn.  Take  any  of  the  parks  except  City  Hall 
on  anything  like  an  open  night,  and  one  will  hear 
some  strange  imprecations  and  see  some  touching  as 
well  as  revolting  sights.  I  remember,  not  many 
weeks  ago,  a  scene  in  Madison  Square.  I  was  walking^ 
through,  having  left  the  Hoffman  House,  intending, 
as  the  night  was  so  pleasant,  to  cross  over  to  Twenty- 
third  street  and  take  the  Elevated  down  town.  Only 
a  couple  of  paces  in  front  of  me,  going  in  the  same 
direction,  walked  a  young  couple,  a  man  and  a  woman. 
The  young  w^oman,  who  was  talking  in  a' half  reck- 
less manner,  addressed  her  companion  as  Tom.  They 
half  paused,  and  just  as  I  was  in  the  act  of  walking 
around  them,  a  person  hitherto  unobserved,  at  my 
right,  exclaimed : 

"My  God!    Only  twelve  o'clock!" 

The  damp,  warm  spring  wind,  loaded  with  the  odor 
of  fresh  grass  and  young  leaves,  blew  the  sound  of 
some  church  bell  to  me,  striking  midnight.  The 
moon  was  peeping  curiously  through  the  trees  pin- 
feathered  with  foliage,  and  its  light  glinted  on  a 
figure  on  one  of  the  benches — the  figure  of  the  voice. 
It  was  a  woman's  figure,  too — no  longer  young,  no 
longer  beautiful — but  who  had  been  the  one  as  surely 
as  the  other.  A  red-eyed  wreck,  in  a  dress  wliich 
would  have  disgraced  the  garbage-box  of  a  Boston 
old  clo'  shop,  with  a  voice  so  husky  that  it  might  have 
been  drowned  in  tears.  But  it  was  the  aroma  of 
something  decidedly  stronger  and  easier  to  get  drunk 
on  than  tears  which  the  words  blew  to  me  through 
the  pure  air. 

"By  jove!  she's  a  tough  citizen!"  commented  Tom. 


Life  Among  the  Lowly,  401 


"Poor  devil!"  Give  her  sometMng  for  me,  Tom," 
said  his  companion. 

Tom  dove  into  his  pocket,  and  a  couple  of  the 
jingling  coins  there  fell  in  the  tough  citizen's  lap. 
The  girl  —  a  pretty  one  she  was  —  bent  forward 
curiously,  but  drew  her  silken  skirts  as  if  to  avoid 
contamination.  But  the  woman  jumped  up  with  a 
great  wild  cry  and  threw  her  arms  up  like  a  mad 
one. 

"Great  God!  Jessie!" 

Tom  drew  the  girl  away,  all  white  and  trembling, 
but  unresistingly.  The  woman  fell  back  in  her  seat 
and  a  cloud  swept  over  the  moon.  Out  of  the  dark- 
ness came  her  broken  voice 

"  My  own  daughter,  and  she  won't  speak  to  me  ! 
She  won't  let  m.e  warn  her  from  going  the  same  road 
I  went  !  My  God  !  My  God  !" 

The  moon  had  come  out  again  and  she  was  groping 
with  an  unsteady  hand  for  the  coins  on  the  asphalt 
when  I  walked  away,  wondering.  Wondering  what  ? 
How  the  night  would  pass  with  this  lost,  houseless 
woman,  haunted  by  the  self -wrecked  past  and  by  the 
picture  of  her  child  going  the  same  fatal  way  that 
she  had  gone.  And  how  would  it  go  with  the  daugh- 
ter who  would  not  speak  to  her,  but  who  in  spite  of 
herself  and  the  champagne,  could  not  help  seeing 
beyond  her  lover's  face  upon  her  pillow,  another 
ruined  one,  feeling  perhaps  in  his  arms  the  embrace 
of  those  which  once  had  bundled  her,  yet  whose 
touch  now  was  pollution  even  to  a  thing  already 
soiled.  If  the  stones  of  the  great  city  had  tongues 
how  many  such  mom'nful  romances  could  they  tell  ? 


402 


WONDEBS  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTT. 


How  many  romances,  anyhow,  find  refuge  in  tl:e 
parks?  Romances  of  existences  sucked  down  in 
whirling  tide  of  life  to  depths  from  which  they  can 
never  rise,  waiting  with  the  stolid  submission  of 
brutes  for  a  death  they  are  too  lost  in  every  sense  to 
invoke  upon  themselves. 

LUDICROUS  INCIDENTS. 

Wlien  a  man  finds  (I  am  speaking  of  the  vagrants) 
a  park  to  suit  him,  he  preempts  a  bench  and  then 
masters  the  art  of  sitting  erect  and  not  snoi'ing.  A 
sleeper  in  the  park  who  does  not  snore,  is  never  dis- 
turbed by  the  police.  I  remember  an  old  vag  wlio 
used  to  haunt  Washington  Square.  He  had  the 
faculty  of  sleeping  like  a  top  with  one  leg  crossed 
over  the  other,  and  his  foot  wagging  all  the  time. 
He  was  a  regular  old  rounder,  and  the  bench  he  occu- 
pied was  known  to  the  fraternity  as  Grandpap's  seat. 
Somehow  or  other  it  was  always  vacated  for  the  old 
man  before  eleven  o'clock.  One  night  he  found  a 
strange  tramp  there  and  shook  him  roughly,  saying : 
"Here  !  here  !  I  say  !  w^hat  do  you  mean  by  sleeping 
here?"  The  fellow  shambled  off  grumbling  at  the 
"infernal  coppers,"  and  grandpap  sat  down  and  began 
to  dream  off-hand. 

Some  new  hands  stretch  themselves  out  on  the 
benches,  but  this  is  a  most  unsatisfactory  practice, 
and  they  don't  do  it  more  than  once.  In  the  first 
place  the  iron  arms  which  divide  the  bench  in  com- 
partments of  one  human  capacity  each,  render  it  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  compose  your  limbs  in  anything 
like  a  comfortable  attitude.    And  in  the  second  place 


Life  Among  the  Lowly. 


403 


you  have  no  sooner  got  them  composed  than  a  police- 
man comes  along  and  clubs  you  vigorously  on  the 
\  j  soles  of  your  feet.  The  extremities  are  usually  very 
delicate  ones  with  the  people  who  lodge  in  the  parks, 
both  in  a  physical  sense  and  in  the  matter  of  cover- 
ing, and  though  we  are  assured  that  clubbing  a  man 
on  the  feet  is  by  no  means  painful,  the  assertion  would 
be  accepted  by  a  broken-booted  tramp  with  polite  dis- 
belief, to  say  the  least.  "  It's  not  quite  as  bad  as  be- 
ing clubbed  over  the  head,"  one  of  them  remarked, 
"  and  as  far  as  my  light  goes  that's  all  you  kin  say 
for  it." 

There  is  not,  as  one  might  suppose,  that  neighborly 
feeling  among  the  park  lodgers  that  a  communion  of 
misery  should  engender.  In  point  of  fact  the  reverse 
is  the  case.  Dog  may  not  eat  dog,  but  one  lodger 
will  prey  on  another  if  he  sleeps  soundly  enough 
and  has  anything  worth  preying  on.  Cases  frequently 
occur  in  which  men  wake  up  to  find  themselves  stripped 
of  boots,  hats,  and  even  coats  and  pantaloons,  if  they 
have  been  drunk  enough.  And  when  this  bad  luck 
struck  some  repectable  drunkard  on  a  park  bench  on 
his  way  home,  he  never  wakes  up  and  rubs  his  eyes 
and  wonders  where  he  is  with  any  respectability  which 
could  be  stolen,  left.  A  young  man  once  expended 
the  savings  of  six  months  on  a  fine  dress  suit,  in  or- 
der to  take  his  sweetheart  to  her  sister's  wedding. 
The  night  the  suit  came  home  he  put  it  on,  and  wore 
it  out  to  paralyze  the  boys.  Of  course  it  had  to 
be  christened,  and  in  performing  that  operation  the 
boys  paralyzed  him.  He  went  home  by  way  of  Union 
Square  and  sat  down  on  a  bench.    When  he  felt  suf- 


404  Wonders  of  a  Great  Oitt. 


ficiently  restored  it  was  daylight  and  a  policeman  had 
him  by  the  ear.  The  young  man  had  exactly  six  arti- 
cles of  clothing  on,  and  these  were  a  shirt,  undershirt, 
drawers,  socks  and  a  liver  pad.  Even  his  shirt  studs 
were  gone  and  as  he  could  not  bribe  a  messenger ;  he. 
as  the  story  goes,  staid  in  the  Police  station  three 
days  and  three  nights,  until  the  river  had  been  drag- 
ged for  him  and  he  had  lost  his  position,  his  sweet- 
heart, and  his  standing  in  society.  He  did  not  be- 
come a  park  lodger.  Not  he.  He  married  a  rich 
old  widow,  and  gets  drunk  when  he  pleases  in  the 
sanctity  of  his  own  brown  stone  front,  and  has  every 
park-lodging  tramp  arrested  who  comes  begging  at  his 
basement  door. 

FATE  OF  AN  OUTCAST. 

Park  lodgers  are  pretty  much  all  alike,  men  and 
women,  foot-balls  of  misfortune,  lost  in  rags  and 
degradation  to  any  identification  except  the  common 
one  of  outcast.  Now  and  then,  however,  one  turns 
up  with  a  spark  of  a  superior  nature  burning  yet, 
under  the  ashes  of  a  shameful  life.  Such  a  one  was 
a  young  woman,  a  young  girl,  who  a  year  or  two  ago 
resided  in  Union  Square.  She  had  a  pretty,  childish 
face,  but  ruined  by  excess.  She  was  pretty  much 
always  drunk,  but  harmlessly  so,  and  the  officers  left 
her  to  herself.  No  matter  how  hungry  she  may  have 
been  herself,  she  always  had  a  crust  or  two,  grubbed 
from  some  garbage  box,  to  feed  to  the  birds.  One 
daybreak,  at  the  beginning  of  last  winter,  a  park 
guard  noticed  a  rigid  figure  on  one  of  the  benches 
quite  white  with  the  light  snow  that  had  fallen  in 


Life  Among  the  Lowly, 


405 


the  night.    A  flock  of  sparrows  were  fluttering  about 
and  perching  fearlessly  on  it,  filling  the  air  with  dis- 
turbed twitterings.    The  outcast  had  found  a  better 
rest  than  she  had  ever  known  since  her  baby  heart 
i    began  to  flutter  against  her  mother's  breast.  The 
!    snow,  more  merciful  than  man,  had  spread  the  white 
mantle  of  its  inscrutable  charity  over  the  shameful 
b|   past,  and  all  human  vice  and  wickedness  was  blotted 
out  by  that  awful  presence  in  which  king  and  beggar 
I   become  all  alike — mere  dust.    And  the  birds  she  had 
^  !l   fed  sung  her  requiem  as  no  monarch's  was  ever 
chanted  down  the  echoing  nave  of  Notre  Dame. 

A  policeman  with  whom  I  was  on  terms  of  un- 
oflicial  intimacy  once  pointed  out  two  dilapidated 
bums  of  opposite  sexes  who  were  studying  astronomy 
together  in  Tompkin's  Square,  and  remarked: 
"That's  a  nice  pair  to  git  married,  ain't  it?" 
"To  what?" 

"  Get  married.  They've  been  working  the  park 
together  all  spring,  and  what  does  they  do  the  other 
day  but  go  over  to  the  sailor's  mission  and  git  the 
parson  there  to  splice  them.  When  he  gets  through, 
Chuffy,  as  we  calls  the  man,  takes  him  to  one  side 
and  he  says,  says  he: 

" 'Your  reverence,  I'm  sorry  for  to  be  obliged  to 
hang  this  little  bill  up.'  " 

"'O,  that's  all  right,'  says  the  reverend,  for  he 
I  I  hadn't  expected  no  money  and  had  married  'em  more 
I  for  the  fun  of  the  thing." 

"  'Thanky,'  says  Chuify;  'and  now  I'd  like  to  ask  a 
favor  of  you  Lend  me  a  quarter  to  git  some  hash 
with,  will  you  ?  I  want  to  let  Mary  Ann  down  easy 
on  my  bein'  broke  ?' " 


406  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


HOMES  FOR  SEAIVIEN. 

Jack  has  his  abode  in  New  York  as  well  as  the 
aristocracy,  although  its  location  is  somewhat  differ- 
ent. Any  one  can  find  him  who  wishes  to.  Where 
the  lanes  are  the  darkest  and  filthiest,  where  the  dens 
are  the  deepest  and  foulest,  where  the  low  bar  rooms, 
groggeries,  and  dance  houses  are  the  most  numerous, 
where  the  vilest  women  and  men  abide,  in  the  black 
sea  of  drunkenness,  lewdness,  and  sin,  the  sailor  has 
his  New  York  home.  In  one  street  there  are  more 
than  a  hundred  houses  for  seamen,  and  each  one  viler 
than  in  any  other  locality  in  New  York.  His  land- 
lord keeps  him  in  debt.  He  is  robbed  in  a  few  days 
of  all  his  hard-earned  wages, — robbed  boldly  by  day- 
light, and  he  has  no  redress.  A  walk  along  this 
single  street  reveals  a  sight  not  to  be  found  in  any 
other  part  of  the  city,  not  to  be  exceeded  by  any 
othe  vile  locality  in  the  world ; — a  hundred  houses, 
located  on  both  sides  of  the  street,  the  most  infamous 
in  the  city,  where  brawls,  rioting,  robberies,  and 
marders  take  place  ;  a  hundred  dance  houses,  whose 
unblushing  boldness  throws  open  doors  and  win- 
dows, that  all  who  will  may  look  in  on  the  motly 
group  of  boys  and  old  women,  girls  and  old  men, 
seamen  and  landsmen,  reeking  with  drunkenness,  ob- 
scenity, and  blasphemy ;  hundreds  of  Ioav  groggeries, 
each  crowded  with  customers,  black  and  white,  old 
and  young,  foreign  and  native  !  All  along  the  side- 
walk women  sit,  stand,  pr  recline ;  women  clean  and 
women  filthy  ;  neatly  dressed  and  in  the  vilest  array ; 
women  at  work,  and  modest,  apparently,  as  can  be 


Life  Among  the  Lowly, 


407 


found  in  any  street,  steadily  at  their  employ,  with 
children  around  them ;  women  who  load  the  air  with 
vilest  imprecations,  and  assault  the  passer  by  with 
insolence,  ribaldry,  and  profanity. 

THE  beggar's  EEVEL. 

Not  many  nights  ago,  accompanied  by  a  friend,  I 
visited  a  miserable  den  on  South  Fifth  avenue.  The 
entrance  to  it  bore  tlie  sign  in  French  Aux  Avengtes. " 
The  sign  was  a  single  board,  split  through  the  mid- 
dle and  held  in  a  lop-sided  drunken  fashion  over  a 
beetle-browed  black  alley  between  two  ramshackle 
two-storied  frame  houses.  An  oil  lamp  in  a  cracked 
reflector  lantern  flickered  in  the  gusty  night  above  it. 
Its  blinky  flame  looked  for  all  the  world  like  the  un- 
steady ogle  of  some  leering  drunkard.  The  lantern 
itself,  perched  owlishly  on  a  couple  of  twisted  iron 
legs,  was  one-sided,  as  if  the  oil  had  got  into  its  head 
and  was  about  to  upset  it,  which,  if  lanterns  pos- 
sessed any  sense  of  smell  would  have  been  no  wonder. 
To  carry  out  the  general  delirium  tremens  illusion  the 
two  houses  had  sunken  on  their  foundations  until  one 
threatened  to  fall  upon  che  other  and  send  it.  reeling 
into  the  yard  behind  the  fence  covered  with  show- 
bills in  which  some  cats  were  either  serenading  or 
trying  to  kill  one  another. 

We  entered  the  alley  as  a  cat  ran  by  us,  and  passed 
into  a  square  court  surrounded  by  rickety  frame 
buildings,  to  be  greeted  by  the  cry  : 

"Hey,  the  devil!  What  then  is  this  all  about? 
Say  then!" 

It  was  a  hoarse  voice,  a  voice  like  the  grating  of  a 


408  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


rusty  prison  lock.    It  was  Freneli,  and  it  seemed  to 
say  somewhere  from  the  region  of  the  ground, 
Thousand  devils  !    Are  you  then  deaf?" 

The  voice  is  getting  mad  now,  and  speaks  in  an 
accent  that  might  inspire  an  able-bodied  bull  with 
envy.  A  dog  barks,  too,  a  currish  sharp  bark,  and 
looking  down,  we  see  a  flary  light  at  the  bottom  of  a 
flight  of  dubious,  wooden  steps,  as  we  stand  looking, 
but  halts  a  couple  of  feet  away,  barking  in  a  way 
which  threatens  to  turn  him  inside  out,  like  a  true 
cur,  never  coming  near  enough  to  bite  or  to  be  kicked. 

By  this  time  we  have  made  the  situation  out. 

In  the  doorway  of  the  cellar  to  which  the  unreli- 
able staircase  leads,  the  thing  to  which  the  voice  be- 
longs holds  a  glittering  candle  with  a  brandy  bottle 
stick  in  its  hand. 

The  thing  might  be  a  man,  growing  out  of  the 
ground,  for  he  ends  about  where  the  tops  of  ordinary 
people's  boots  come.  He  has  only  one  eye,  a  deep 
inflamed  cavity  occupying  the  place  where  the  other 
ought  to  be.  The  hand  with  which  he  shades  the 
candle  is  gnarled  and  knotted  like  a  weird  warjDed 
cedar.  The  face  the  candle  lis^hts  is  that  of  a  baboon 
— only  dirtier  than  any  baboon  with  an  atom  of 
respect  for  its  race  ever  permits  its  face  to  become. 

I  explain,  in  my  fluent  University  Place  French, 
that  we  are  wayfarers  in  search  of  fluid  refreshment, 
and  as  we  both  have  relatives  in  the  blind  asylum, 
the  sign  at  the  door  lured  us  in  as  promising  ap- 
propriate hospitality. 

"Ask  them  if  they  treat,"  calls  a  clear,  woman's 
voice,  in  English. " 


Life  Among  the  Lowly.  409 


We  are  inside  the  door  before  the  candle  cavalier, 
whom  we  now  see  to  be  an  excessively  inebriated 
man  with  legs  which  end  at  the  knees  in  leather  pads, 
has  time  to  repeat  the  query. 

I  knew  the  place  the  moment  I  set  foot  in  it.  It 
was  the  famous  rendezvous  of  the  French  beggars  of 
New  York,  the  tavern  of  "The  Blind  Men." 

It  was  a  deep  cellar,  almost  square,  in  which  we 
found -ourselves.  From  the  low,  bare  beams  festoons 
of  cobwebs  made  hammocks  for  the  cinders,  showers 
of  sparks  were  sucked  up  a  black,  gaping  chimney 
from  a  sort  of  gridiron  hearth. 

A  sooty  pot  swung  over  this  iire  at  the  end  of  a 
crane.  An  old  woman  stirred  it  with  a  copj)er  ladle, 
while  half  a  dozen  almost  naked  children  squatted 
like  cats  in  the  warm  ashes.  Fierce  waves  of  heat 
swept  out  f^'om  the  glowing  pile,  loaded,  as  sea  swells 
are  with  wreck,  with  odors  of  rancid  grease,  burning 
fat,  garlic,  tainted  meat,  stale  beer,  staler  fish,  ranker 
tobacco  and  the  indescribable  reek  of  unwashed 
humanity. 

There  were  heaps  of  damp  rags  in  the  corners, 
which  steamed  as  if  they  w^ere  stewing  into  a  devil's 
broth  in  their  own  juice. 

"Now,  then;  if  it's  tj^eat,  talk  quick.  Mine's 
gin." 

•  She  sat  on  the  arm  of  a  high,  red-painted,  old- 
fashioned  easy-chair.  One  arm  was  wound  around 
the  neck  of  a  fi'ightful,  sightless,  withered,  paralytic 
old  man,  who  crouched  in  his  seat  like  one  of  the 
Acquarium  chimpanzees  in  its  straw,  wrapped  from 
ueck  to  heels  in  a  filth-encrusted  army  overcoat,  gib 


410  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


bering  and  grimacing,  lapping  his  pendulous,  alcohol- 
swollen  lip,  with  his  loose  tongue.  His  face  and  his 
palsied  hands  were  the  only  things  about  him  that 
moved.  And  it  seemed  a  fortunate  thing  for  human- 
ity that  they  were  all  of  him  that  was  left  alive. 

Yet  this  girl  of  eighteen,  fresh-faced,  rosy-cheeked, 
bright  eyed,  twined  her  round  arm  about  this  satyr's 
throat  as  tenderly  as  if  he  had  been  the  handsomest 
of  sweethearts.  To  make  the  contrast  more  striking, 
she  wore  a  train  dress  of  pink  silk,  .the  evident  relic 
of  some  theatrical  wardrobe,  grease-splashed,  mud- 
bedraggled  and  tattered,  but  fitting  her  full  form, 
and  looking  by  contrast  with  the  squalor  all  around 
her  pure  as  her  fair  face  looked  amid  the  debased 
ones  which  Avere  turned  on  us  from  every  side. 

"It's  the  old  fake's  doxy,"  hoarsely  whispered  a 
burly  ruffian,  with  a  wooden  leg,  who  was  stretched 
on  a  bench  just  inside  the  door,  fumigating  himself 
through  the  medium  of  a  black  pipe,  strong  enough 
to  draw  a  loaded  truck  with. 

"D — n  it,  man,  set'em  up,  or  she'll  be  at  ye  like 
the  born  devil  she  is. " 

We  set  them  up. 

The  setting  up  was  performed  by  a  stalwart  per- 
son of  Alsatian  origin  with  a  blonde  beard  and  long 
wavy  yellow  hair,  who  took  our  money  first  and  * 
made  sure  of  its  genuineness.  This  operation  led  us* 
to  notice,  in  a  far  corner,  a  species  of  bar — a  counter 
the  size  of  a  packing  case,  with  a  top  covered  with 
battered  zinc.  There  were  no  bottles  visible  behind 
it.  The  "  Blind  Men"  evidently  were  not  trustworthy 
men,  too.    The  blonde  man  fetched  his  supply  from 


Life  Among  the  Lowly,  411 


some  receptacle  underneath  it,  over  which  a  fat  wo- 
man, with  an  artificial  rose  in  her  shaggy  hair  and 
great  brass  hoop  ear-rings,  sat  guard  most  vigilantly. 
The  blonde  individual  handed  our  money  to  her  and 
she  dropped  it  into  the  cavity  between  her  breasts  as 
if  she  was  posting  a  contribution  to  the  Irish  suffer- 
ers. Everybody  drank,  and  nobody  seemed  partic- 
ular what  they  drank  out  of  as  long  as  it  held  plenty 
and  wasn't  clean.  There  were  tin  cans,  tumblers, 
goblets,  beer  glasses,  china  cups,  everything,  in  short, 
that  would  hold  liquid.  And  the  people  who  drank 
out  of  them  seemed  specially  created  to  find  use  for 
the  battered,  nicked  and  cracked  receptacles  them- 
selves. It  was  such  a  beggar's  revel  as  Victor  Hugo 
describes  in  the  opening  of  "Notre  Dame;"  an  orgie 
of  squalor,  mimic  misery  enjoying  the  fruits  of  its 
cunning  as  the  hog  wallows  in  its  congenial  slime. 

There  were  men  and  women  here,  or  rather  the  dis- 
tortions and  remnants  of  men  and  women,  who  were 
as  familiar  to  us  as  if  we  had  known  them  all  our 
lives.  There  was  the  blind  man,  with  the  venerable 
hair  and  beard,  who  fiddles  his  way  about,  led  by  his 
faithful  dog.  He  had  a  woman's  comb  jabbed  in  his 
long,  silvery  locks  now,  and  lay  back  with  his  hoary 
head  against  the  swollen  breasts  of  a  red-faced 
woman  with  a  crutch  in  her  lap,  w^ho  had  his  battered 
hat  perched  on  her  unkempt  hair.  They  were  drink- 
ing what  passed  for  brandy  out  of  the  same  chalice. 
The  faithful  dog  was  earning  the  meed  of  his  day's 
toil  at  the  expense  of  a  cat  in  the  fireplace.  The 
two  big  pine  tables,  set  together  and  littered  with 
the  scraps  of  a  meal  reminded  me  of  one  of  the  ob- 


412  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


scene  feasts  of  the  buzzards.  The  score  of  fio^ures 
round  it,  deformed  with  the  malignant  deformity  of 
devils,  drinking  the  liquor  whose  very  exhalations 
made  the  air  drunk  like  water.  The  jargon  of  hoarse, 
weak,  shrill  and  broken  voices,  mouthing  the  argot  of 
the  Parisian  slums,  larded  here  and  there  Avith  those 
vigorous  English  oaths  the  foreigner  always  learns 
first.  The  greasy-chimneyed  oil  lamps,  swinging  from 
the  roof  with  iron  chains ;  beyond,  in  the  red  light 
of  the  fire,  the  bar,  with  the  fat  woman  and  her  sav- 
ings bank  bust,  and  the  lean  children  squabbling  like 
imps  with  the  dogs. 

And  blazing  like  an  angel  newly-fallen  in  this  rout 
of  devils,  the  pink  dress,  caressing  her  palsied  lover, 
burying  his  shamef  ul,  shaking  head  in  the  clod  of 
her  wild,  copper-colored  hair.  Pierre  Carre  has  been 
the  despot  of  this  colony  of  beggars  for  upwards  of 
a  decade.  What  rum  has  left  of  him  in  the  tottering 
paralytic  rules  them  still.  He  used  to  navigate  him- 
self about  the  streets  in  a  go-cart,  which  he  propelled 
by  a  lever  worked  with  his  hands.  But  when  his 
blood  turned  to  alcohol  and  his  strength  gave  out,  an 
old  woman  pushed  him  about.  The  crone  claimed  to 
be  his  wife,  and  she  certainly  came  as  near  to  it  as 
any  woman  can  without  owning  a  set  of  marriage 
lines. 

One  night,  in  a  fit  of  drunken  fury,  Pierre  Carre 
found  enough  strength  left  in  his  withered  arms  to 
strangle  her. 

The  idea  of  his  murdering  her,  however,  seemed  so 
preposterous  to  the  coroner's  jury  that  they  returned 
a  verdict  of  accidental  death,  in  defiance  of  the  ten 


Life  Among  the  Lowly. 


413 


livid  marks  on  the  dead  woman's  throat  and  of  the 
ten  deep  pits  bored  by  the  beggar  king's  black  nails. 
Then  Esmeralda  turned  up.  She  came  into  "The 
Blind  Men"  one  night,  pushing  the  go-cart  before 
her  as  unconcernedly  as  if  she  had  been  at  that  work 
all  her  life.  She  was  ragged,  shivering  under  a  single 
calico  dress  and  a  thin,  ragged  shawl.  But  she  was  ^ 
all  the  prettier  for  it. 

"She  was  a  daisy  in  them  days,"  exclaimed  the 
gentleman  with  the  wooden  leg  and  the  pipe,  who  is 
an  English  "codger'^  with  a  great  contempt  for  the 
"foreigners"  with  whom  his  lot  is  temporarily  cast. 
"But  the  gin's  commencing  to  fetch  her  now."  This, 
and  the  fact  that  she  is  Pierre  Cari'e's  daily  and 
nightly  companion,  is  about  all  the  denizens  of  "The 
Blind  Men"  hostelry  knoAV  of  her.  Except  that  she 
speaks  French  and  English  with  equal  fluency  and 
is  artistically  profane  in  both  languages.  From  the 
time  she  takes  the  old  man  up  in  her  arms  and  carries 
him  like  a  bundle  of  dirty  rags  or  a  sack  of  ofEal  up 
to  the  mysterious  room  on  the  floor  above,  which  no 
one  penetrates,  and  in  whose  fastnesses  the  mendicant 
monarch  is  supposed  to  have  a  fortune  secreted,  until 
she  reappears  wheeling  him  into  the  cellar  in  his  day- 
car  of  state,  she  speaks  to  no  one  except  to  those 
from  whom  in  the  street  she  craves  charity  for  her 
poor  father. 

We  passed  an  hour  with  the  beggars,  and  then  de- 
parted only  a  trifle  wiser  than  when  we  entered  their 
hotel. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


THE  CHILDREN  OF  ABRAHAM. 


THE  JEWS  IN  NEW  YORK — THE  SYNAGOGUES — INNOVATIONS — THE  FEAST 


HE  people  of  Israel  are  very  numerous.  A 


I  portion  of  them  are  intelligent,  respectable  and 
>\realtliy.  The  leading  bankers  are  Jews  of  this  class ; 
so  are  the  importers,  who  have  almost  wholly 
monopolized  a  large  portion  of  the  foreign  trade. 
But  the  Jews  of  the  lower  class  are  disagreeable,  and 
their  presence  a  nuisance  to  any  Christian  neighbor- 
hood. If  they  get  into  a  block,  they  infest  it  like 
the  plague.  Persons  in  search  of  a  house  invariably 
ask,  Are  there  any  Jews  in  the  block  ? "  Their 
social  customs  and  habits,  their  pastimes,  and  the 
manner  in  which  they  spend  the  Sabbath,  are  so  un- 
like our  own,  that  it  is  impossible  to  dwell  with  them 
with  any  comfort.  When  they  get  into  a  neighbor- 
hood, in  any  numbers,  it  is  deserted  by  all  others. 
There  are  some  beautiful  watering  places  in  the 
.  vicinity  of  New  York  where  the  Jews  hold  entire 
possession.  They  came  in  few  at  a  time,  and  Christian 
families  had  to  desei-t  the  place;  they  could  not 
live  with  them.    One  of  the  large  hotels  at  Long 


OF  THE  PASSOVER — JEWISH  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 


The  Children  of  Abraham. 


415 


Branch  is  the  rendezvous  of  Jewish  families.  A  new 
hotel,  erected  two  years  ago,  was  occupied  by  leading 
families  from  this  and  other  cities,  on  the  express 
condition  that  Jewish  women  and  children  should  not 
be  allowed  in  the  house.  Every  means  has  been 
resorted  to  by  the  people  of  Israel  to  get  rooms  in  this 
hotel,  and  fabulous  prices  offered.  But  up  to  this  time 
none  have  been  admitted.  A  half  dozen  families  would 
drive  away  all  who  were  not  of  Israel.  These  people 
inay  be  just  as  good  as  Christians  morally,  yet  their 
social  customs  make  them  so  disagreeable  that  parties 
who  have  money  to  spend,  and  can  choose  their  loca- 
tion, will  not  dwell  with  them.  The  prophecy  uttered 
by  Balaam  over  three  thousand  years  ago,  that  "  Israel 
§hall  dwell  alone,"  seems  to  have  a  literal  fulfilment. 

JEWS  OF  THE  LOWER  CLASS. 

Portions  of  the  city  on  the  east  side  are  wholly  given 
up  to  this  nation.  Chatham  street  is  the  bazaar  of  the 
lower  Jews.  It  is  crowded  with  their  places  of  trade, 
and  over  their  stores  they  generally  live.  Noisy  and 
turbulent,  they  assail  all  who  pass,  solicit  trade,  and 
secure  general  attention  and  general  contempt.  They 
know  no  Sabbath.  On  Saturday,  their  national  Sab- 
bath, they  keep  open  stores  because  they  live  in  a 
Christian  country.  On  Sunday  they  trade  because 
they  are  Jews.  The  lower  class  of  this  people  are 
foreigners,  and  fraud  is  their  capital.  They  go  aboard 
of  an  emigrant  ship  with  their  worldly  effects  nailed  up 
in  a  small  wooden  box.  The  authorities  at  Castle 
Garden  know  them  well,  and  watch  them  on  their 
landing.    They  frequently  demand  a  plethoric  trunk, 


416 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


present  for  it  a  check,  and  carry  off  their  prize.  It  is 
their  custom  to  watch  their  chance  on  ship-board,  and 
transfer  the  label  from  their  own  mean  box  to  the 
well-filled  trunk  of  somebody  else.  They  often  leave 
the  old  country  without  means,  and  land  with  a  hand 
some  outfit,  plundered  from  some  luckless  emigrant. 

THE  SYNAGOGUES. 

These  are  very  numerous.  Some  of  them  are  very 
elegant  and  costly,  and  their  locations  are  unsurpassed. 
Following  the  pattern  after  which  the  synagogue  was 
built  in  which  the  Savior  preached  his  first  sermon  at 
Nazareth,  so  the  synagogues  in  New  York  are  built 
Men  worship  with  their  hats  on.  It  is  as  disrespectful 
to  take  your  hat  off  in  a  Jewish  synagogue  as  it  is  to 
keep  it  on  in  a  church.  The  men  sit  below.  Women 
sit  in  the  gallery,  and  they  are  not  allowed  to  enter 
the  enclosure  where  the  men  worship.  A  more  ir- 
reverent congregation,  apparently,  cannot  be  found 
than  the  Jews  at  worship.  They  wear  scarfs  over  their 
shoulders  while  engaged  in  devotions.  If  they  see  a 
person  they  wish  to  speak  to,  or  make  a  trade  with, 
they  take  the  scarf  off  their  shoulders,  throw  it  over 
their  arm,  and  talk  on  friendship  or  business,  as  the 
case  may  be,  and  then  replace  the  scarf  and  continue 
their  worship.  Psalms  are  sung,  led  by  a  ram's  horn  j 
the  law  read,  as  it  was  in  Mount  Zion  in  the  days  of 
David  and  Solomon.  The  audience  room  looks  like  the 
Corn  Exchange.  The  centre  of  the  room  holds  a  plat- 
form, which  is  railed  in,  on  which  is  a  huge  table  for 
the  reading  of  the  law.  The  number  of  men  about  the 
table,  their  business-like  appearance,  their  bustling 


The  Children  of  Abraham. 


417 


back  and  forth  with  their  hats  on,  many  of  them  peer- 
ing over  the  same  book,  suggests  that  this  is  a  thriving 
mercantile  house,  where  a  good  business  is  carried  on 
by  earnest  men,  who  speak  in  a  foreign  tongua 

INNOVATIONS. 

Even  Israel  has  its  troubles.  New  men  and  new 
measures  have  got  into  the  synagogue,  filhng  the 
friends  of  the  old  order  of  things  with  sorrow  and 
.  alarm.  The  Eabbis  preach  about  the  degeneracy  of 
the  times,  the  new-fangled  notions  of  this  age,  the 
abandonment  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  fathers,  and 
the  better  days  of  the  olden  time.  The  wealthiest 
Jews  have  built  synagogues  according  to  modern 
ideas.  Families  do  not  sit  apart,  but  together  in  pews, 
according  to  the  Christian  ideas.  This  is  a  great 
scandal  of  the  faithful  in  Israel.  The  ram's  horn  is 
laid  aside,  and  a  costly  organ  leads  the  devotions. 
The  tunes  of  the  patriarchs  are  abandoned  for  the 
sweeter  melodies  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Not  in  religion  alone  are  these  innovations  found, 
but  they  touch  the  culinary  arrangements  of  the  Jews, 
and  affect  their  domestic  customs.  A  friend  of  mine, 
not  long  since,  was  invited  to  dine  with  a  wealthy  Jew, 
whose  name  is  well  known  among  the  most  eminent 
business  men  of  the  city.  The  table  was  elegantly 
spread,  and  among  the  dishes  was  a  fine  ham  and  some 
oysters,  both  forbidden  by  the  law  of  Moses.  A  little 
surprised  to  see  these  prohibited  dishes  on  the  table, 
and  anxious  to  know  how  a  Jew  would  explain  the 
introduction  of  such  forbidden  food,  in  consistency 
with  his  allegiance  to  the  Mosaic  law,  my  friend  called 


418 


Wonders  of  a  Great  Gity, 


the  attention  of  the  Jew  to  their  presence.  "  Well," 
said  the  host,  "  I  belong  to  that  portion  of  the  people 
of  Israel  who  are  changing  the  customs  of  our  fathers 
to  conform  to  the  times  and  country  in  which  we  live. 
We  make  a  distinction  between  what  is  moral  in  the 
law,  and,  of  course,  binding,  and  what  is  sanitary.  The 
pork  of  Palestine  was  diseased  and  unwholesome.  It 
was  not  fit  to  be  eaten,  and  therefore  was  prohibited. 
But  Moses  never  tasted  a  slice  of  Cincinnati  ham. 
Had  he  done  so,  he  would  have  commanded  it  to  be 
eaten.  The  oysters  of  Palestine  were  coppery  and 
poisonous.  Had  the  great  lawgiver  enjoyed  a  fry  or 
stew  of  Saddlerocks  or  Chesapeake  Bay  oysters,  he 
would  have  made  an  exception  in  their  favor.  We 
keep  the  spirit  of  the  law,  and  not  the  letter." 

The  new  synagogue  in  upper  New  York,  on  Fifth 
Avenue,  called  Beth-Emanuel  (or  the  Temple  of  God, 
in  English),  is  to  be  the  most  costly  and  elegant  reli- 
gious edifice  in  all  New  York.  It  is  in  the  quaint 
Moorish  or  Saracenic  style,  and  in  finish,  gorgeous- 
ness,  and  richness,  will  be  unequalled.  It  will  be 
adorned  with  minarets,  pinnacles,  and  Oriental  turrets 
of  great  height.  The  sides  are  to  be  ornamented  with 
columns  of  Moorish  pattern  and  painting.  The  main 
entrance  is  to  restore  the  pattern  of  Solomon's  Temple, 
with  its  brazen  gates  and  gorgeousness  of  exterior. 
No  Christian  temples,  in  expense  or  in  elegance  equal 
the  synagogues  of  the  Jews. 


The  Children  of  Abraham,  419 


THE  FEAST  OF  THE  PASSOVER. 

This  festival  is  held  in  all  reverence  by  the  Jews. 
It  begins  on  Friday  at  six  o'clock.  No  pleasant  bread 
is  eaten,  and  no  pleasant  drink  taken  during  its  con- 
tinuance. The  synagogues  are  crowded.  The  so- 
lemnities of  Zion  are  kept  as  they  were  three  centuries 
ago  in  Jerusalem,  — 

"When 

The  timbrel  rang  along  their  halls, 
And  God  communed  with  men." 

The  Passover  bread  is  of  the  first  quality.  The 
flour  is  selected  by  the  priests,  and  must  be  made  of 
the  finest  wheat.  It  takes  eighteen  hundred  barrels 
to  supply  the  Passover  bread  for  New  York.  It  is 
mixed  in  sacred  vessels,  which  are  kept  by  the  Eabbis. 
Holy  men  keep  watch  over  the  flour  from  the  time  it 
leaves  the  barrel  until  it  is  put  into  the  oven.  Holy 
men  receive  it  as  it  comes  from  the  oven,  and  guard 
the  sacred  food  until  it  is  distributed  to  the  faithful. 
Everything  is  done  that  vigilance  can  suggest  to  guard 
the  bread  from  the  touch  of  the  Gentiles,  and  from 
everything  that  the  law  pronounces  unclean. 

JEWISH  SUNDAY  SCHOOLS. 

Not  alone  in  food  and  in  the  order  of  worship  are  the 
children  of  Israel  subject  to  innovation,  but  their  re- 
ligion is  assailed  from  quarters  that  admit  of  no  defence. 
The  Sunday  schools  of  New  York  are  very  numerous. 
In  spite  of  themselves  the  Jewish  children  have  to 
mingle  with  the  children  of  the  Gentiles.  The  Sunday 
schools  are  very  attractive ;  the  music,  the  cheerful 


420  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


songs,  the  interesting  books  and  papers,  the  flowers, 
and  the  exhilaration  of  the  gatherings,  are  irresistible. 
Large  numbers  of  Jewish  children  attend  the  Sunday 
schools.  They  hear  of  the  Savior ;  they  learn  to  sing 
his  praise  ;  they  go  home  and  fill  the  house  with  song 
about  the  Babe  in  Bethlehem,  and  the  Holy  One  who 
took  little  children  in  his  arms.  To  preserve  their 
children  from  such  influences  as  grow  out  of  a  Sunday 
school,  the  Jews  have  been  compelled  to  mark  the  day 
on  which  the  Savior  arose  from  the  dead  by  opening  a 
school  of  their  own.  These  schools  are  conducted  by 
the  Rabbi,  who  does  not  allow  any  one  but  himself  to 
impress  religious  truth  on  the  minds  of  children.  The 
exercises  consist  of  lessons  in  the  Hebrew  tongue  from 
the  Law,  the  Prophet,  and  the  Psalms.  The  Jewish 
catechism  is  taught,  and  the  singing  consists  of  chant- 
ing the  Psalms  of  David.  This  peculiar  people,  who 
have  rejected  the  Messiah  for  so  many  years,  bear  in 
their  persons,  as  a  nation  and  a  race,  proof  that  He  who 
spoke  of  them  was  the  Lord  from  heaven. 

REVIVING  A  PREJUDICE. 

Quite  recently,  the  Grand  Union  Hotel  at  Saratoga, 
and  the  Manhattan  Beach  Hotel  at  Coney  Island,  both 
owned  by  New  Yorkers,  have  endeavored  to  exclude 
Jews,  even  of  the  wealthier  class,  on  the  ground  that 
they  give  trouble,  expect  too  much  for  their  money, 
and  drive  away  other  more  desirable  patrons.  But 
plenty  of  places  desire  such  customers,  and  the  Jews 
are  not  likely  to  go  where  they  are  not  wanted. 


Chapter  xxvii. 

UNLUCKY  MEN. 


OLD  SUPERSTrTITIOITS — WIZARDS  OTT  THE  STREET — LUCKY  AND  UNUCKY 
DAYS — LUCKY  AND  UNLUCKY  MEN  —  HOSPITAL  FOR  DECAYED  MER- 
CHANTS—ILLUSTRATIONS OF  ILL  LUCK — THE  DEVIL  ON  WALL  STREET. 

IN  these  enliglitened  days,  we  look  back  witli  sur- 
prise at  tlie  superstitions  of  the  fathers.  They 
believed  in  witches,  ghosts,  and  hobgoblins.  They 
patronized  conjurors,  fortune  tellers,  and  wizards- 
Necromancers,  and  persons  skilled  in  the  black  art, 
reaped  a  golden  harvest  in  the  street,  and  under  their 
direction  men  bought  and  sold,  dug  the  earth,  and 
sought  for  hidden  treasures.  The  superstitions  of 
the  earlier  days  are  by  no  means  obsolete.  Well 
known  merchants,  otherwise  intelligent,  shrewd  and 
far  seeing,  consult  modern  oracles  and  make  invest- 
ments as  directed  by  the  "  mediums of  the  present 
age.  There  are  unlucky  days,  in  which  the  supersti- 
tious will  not  buy  or  selL  There  is  a  class  of  men  on 
the  street,  who  are  known  to  be  unlucky.  Every- 
thing they  touch  incurs  loss,  and  their  investments 
turn  to  ashes.  Their  companions,  associates,  acquaint- 
ances, and  business  friends,  have  fortunate  streaks. 
The  class  are  ever  doomed  to  disappointment. 


422  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

%, 

We  may  account  for  it  as  we  will ;  it  is  still  a  fact 
that  there  are  persons  who  may  be  justly  termed  un- 
lucky. They  are  not  only  seen  on  the  street  but  in 
every  department  of  life.  Nothing  that  they  do  pros- 
pers. The  Eothchilds,  among  other  rules  had  this, 
from  which  they  never  swerved,  never  to  have  any 
dealings  with  an  unlucky  man,  or  an  unlucky  house. 
They  did  not  pretend  to  explain  how  it  was  that  ill 
luck  would  follow  some  persons,  but  the  fact  they  re- 
cognized, as  all  must,  who  are  familiar  with  the  his- 
tory of  men.  The  great  Rothchilds  said,  that  ill 
luck  might  arise  from  want  of  judgment,  from  idiosyn- 
cracies  of  character,  from  temper,  want  of  moral 
qualities,  from  timidity,  from  rashness.  But  for  men 
who  failed  in  their  enterprises,  or  were  balked  in 
their  pursuits,  who  coul4  not  carry  their  enterprises 
to  success,  or  were  thwarted  in  their  schemes — from 
such  they  turned  away. 

New  York  is  full  of  illustrations  of  the  wisdom  of 
this  course.  It  is  full  of  men  whose  career  can  only 
be  expressed  by  the  simple  word — unlucky.  Two 
apprentices  start  side  by  side,  equally  honest,  indus- 
trious, and  capable.  One  becomes  the  head  of  a  great 
house,  and  the  others  toils  on,  shiftless,  poor,  and 
struggling  to  the  end.  The  one  moves  over  a  broad 
macadamized  path-way  to  success,  everything  turns 
to  his  advantage;  unseen  hands  roll  every  obstacle 
out  of  his  way,  rivals  stumble  and  fall,  or  die  at  the 
right  time,  and  year  after  year  the  lucky  man  accumu- 
"  lates  wealth  and  adds  to  his  political  power.  His 
companion,  with  better  principles,  perhaps,  more 
conscientious,  having  about  him  all  the  elements 


Unlucky  Men. 


423 


j  of  popularity,  is  thwarted,  and  disappointed  on  every 
hand.  He  changes  too  soon  or  too  late;  the  party 
divides  just  as  he  is  on  the  eve  of  getting  the  golden 
bauble,  and  he  ends  his  career  a  seedy,  thriftless,  dis- 
appointed misanthrope.  At  least  a  thousand  men 
started  in  life  with  a  fairer  chance  of  financial  suc- 
cess than  Vanderbilt.  They  worked  harder  than  he 
ever  worked — energetic,  enthusiastic,  devoted  and  per- 
sistentent  followers  of  fortune.  They  have  gone  down 
1  by  hundreds,  been  swept  away  by  stock  and  commer- 
j  cial  panics,  or  walk  about  the  streets  dilapidated 
I  specimens  of  unlucky  men.  From  the  moment  Van- 
derbilt pushed  his  little  scow  from  Staten  Island,  and 
collected  his  first  fare  from  the  passengers  he  w^as  bring- 
ing up  to  the  city,  everything  he  touched  prospered. 
He  ran  steamboats  till  his  name  was  a  terror  in  all 
our  waters.  He  always  had  the  best  of  his  enemies 
in  every  fight.  He  ran  Collins  off  from  the  ocean, 
as  he  said  he  would ;  got  his  hundred  cents  on  the 
dollar  out  of  the  Schuyler  frauds ;  was  snubbed  by 
the  President  ©f  the  Hudson  River  road,  and  gave 
him  his  walking  papers;  was  jeered  at  by  brokers 
when  he  bought  Harlem,  and  made  it  a  controlling 
■  stock  on  the  street ;  and  he  sent  disaster  and  ruin 
among  the  combination  that  tried  to  corner  Harlem. 
He  was  known  on  the  street  as  "  Old  Eighty  Mil- 
lions."  Through  the  whole  of  his  career  people 
prophesied  his  downfall. 

Stewart's  store  was  full  of  bankrupt  merchants,  and 
called  the  "Hospital  for  decayed  traders."  Stewart 
hired  such  men  to  wait  on  his  customers.  They 
came  from  Boston,  Philadelphia,  Buffalo,  and  Chicago. 


424  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


These  men  began  life  with  better  chances  of  succe.' 
than  Stewart.    Why  they  did  not  succeed  no  od 
can  tell.     Most  of  them  were  honest,  sharp,  keei 
and  devoted  tradesmen.    They  made  first-class  assis 
ants  to  Stewart,  besides  bringing  their  customers  wit., 
them.    They  were  simply  uulucky.     There  is  hardl;^ 
an  establishment  in  New  York ;  j  e welry  manufactory 
furniture,  hardware,  and  houses  representing  evenj 
branch  of  trade,  that  has  not  subordinates  who  havt 
tried  business  for  themselves.    They  are  capital  busi: 
ness  men,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  the} 
should  not  prosper.    As  many  of  them  express  it 
"the  luck  was  against  them. "  j 
I  know  two  brothers,  who  were  educated  in  the 
same  school,  members  of  the  same  church,  and  tem-, 
perance  men ;  both  received  a  fine  nautical  education.! 
and  both  of  them  took  to  the  sea.    One,  and  he  not] 
regarded  as  the  brighter,  or  the  more  capable,  came 
into  command  of  a  ship  early.  A  disaster  at  sea,  which, 
would  have  ruined  most  men,  made  him  first  mate., 
On  the  second  voyage,  his  captain  died,  and  he  reached^ 
the  port  to  which  he  was  sailing  in  a  lucky  time,  sold  ] 
his  cargo,  and  secured  a  valuable  freight ;  was  caught  ^ 
III  a  gale  on  his  way  back  that  came  near  sending  him 
to  the  bottom,  but  which  only  sent  him  home  ten  days 
earlier.    His  arrival  was  lucky,  his  freight  being  in 
great  demand,  and  his  swift  voyage  gave  him  great  ; 
favor.    He  sailed  on  the  next  trip  as  captain  of  one 
of  the  best  ships  out  of  port.  During  the  many  years 
that  he  was  captain  his  good  luck  attended  him.  He  , 
^vas  always  in  season ;  caught  the  swiftest  gales ;  es-  i 
caped  quarantine;  was  attended  by  general  success 


Unlucky  jIen. 


425 


and  retired  frora  the  ocean  witli  a  competency.  His 
^1  brother  was  a  better  sailor,  so  it  was  said, — a  high- 
1  toned,  conscientious  fellow,  who  meant  to  do  his  duty 
^   — brave  and  respected;  yet  ill  luck  dogged  his  foot- 
steps  from  the  moment  he  sailed  till  the  end  of  his 
life.    He  held  a  subordinate  position  for  a  long  time. 
\  If  any  trouble  happened,  if  the  crew  mutinied,  ice- 
bergs loomed  up,  foggy  weather  prevailed  with  colli- 
sions, or  gales  produced  troubles,  it  was  always  in 
his  watch.     When   commander,   everything  went 
against  him.    He  lost  two  or  three  vessels.    It  was 
1  no  fault  of  his;  after  each  loss  he  kept  on  shore  a 
long  time,  nobody  trusting  him.    Diseases  always 
'  broke  out  on  board  of  his  ships,  and  he  was  befogged 
and  becalmed  whenever  there  was  a  chance.  He 
i   went  into  the  navy  in  the  v^ar,  and  the  same  ill  luck 
attended  him  there,    He  was  taken  prisoner  once  or 
twice;  monitors  and  gun-boats  sunk  under  him,  or  he 
was  laid  up  so  that  he  could  do  nothing.    The  last 
voyage  he  made  he  was  detained  for  weeks  in  Eng- 
land by  gales  and  storms,  for  his  vessel  was  weak, 
and  was  loaded  with  railroad  iron.    He  died,  as  he 
'   lived,  an  unlucky  man. 

I  meet  men  every  day  in  Broadv,^ay,  who,  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  have  been  battling  with  their 
luck,^ — conscientious  men,  talented  men,  Sunday 
school  men,  Christian  men,  who  have  never  suc- 
ceeded in  anything  they  undertook.  One  bought 
out  a  long  established  and  prosperous  business, 
but  it  failed  on  his  hands  within  twelve  months. 
Others  tried  the  opening  trade  of  California; 
the  season  or  the   elements  made  shipwreck  of 


426  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tteir  little  venture.  Men  go  from  dry  goods  into 
the  street ;  from  the  street  to  trade ;  from  trade 
to  manufactm^ing  ;  then  to  oil  and  stock  companies, 
breaking  everywhere  ;  and  when  nothing  else  will  do, 
the  elements  conspire  and  burn  up  their  success. 
Others  will  track  them  on  their  rounds,  and  reap  a 
golden  harvest  from  every  point.  The  old  nnanciers 
of  New  York  had  an  explanation  for  this  phenomenon 
of  good  luck  and  bad  luck,  which  has  brooded  over 
the  street  since  it  was  first  laid  out,  when  "Dongan 
was  Gouarnor  Generall  of  his  Majesties'  Coll.  of 
NewYorkCc"  These  old  men  believed  in  the  power 
and  existence  of  the  Devil  as  god  of  this  world  and 
the  author  of  all  mischief.  They  believed  that  when 
Satan  wished  to  bother  a  man  financially  he  had  power 
so  to  do,  and  quoted  the  history  of  Job  as  a  proo£ 
Modern  speculators  scout  the  active  agency  of  the 
Devil,  but  their  philosophy  is  at  fault,  as  the  effect 
remains,  without  an  adequate  cause  being  discovered. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  is  no  such  thing  as  "luck," 
which  is  not  accompanied  by  shrewdness,  enterprise, 
and  hard  work.  Barnum,  Bonner,  Stewart,  and  many 
more  who  have  made  great  fortunes  by  apparently 
easy  means,  within  the  reach  of  many,  are  spoken  of 
as  "lucky  men."  But  hard  work,  expensive  advertis- 
ing, grasping  opportunities  when  they  presented, 
tact,  and  talent  made  those  men  rich.  Good  habits 
are  a  great  help.  Pluck,  oftentimes,  will  do  more 
for  a  man  than  luck. 


CHAPTER  XXVIIL 


PANEL  THIEVING. 


A  SYSTEM  OP  ROBBERY  WHICa  IS  SELDOM  PUNISHED— OPERATIVES  AND 
VICTIMS  —  HOW  THE  FLY  IS  LURED  TO  THE  SPIDER's  PARLOR — THE 
DISGRACEFUL  GAME  IN  DETAIL, 


on 


HIS  system  of  robbery,  so  common  in  New 
York,  blends  prostitution  and  theft.  It  is  not 
y  profitable  to  its  disciples,  but  it  is  not  easy  of 
detection.  Persons  who  engage  in  so  corrupting  and 
degrading  a  business,  need  little  furniture  or  capital, 
and  they  seldom  remain  long  in  one  locality,  for  their 
safety  demands  frequent  removals.  One  or  two 
"cribs,"  as  these  dens  are  called,  are  quite  notorious, 
and  have  been  kept  in  the  same  spot  for  a  number  of 
years.  Hand-thieving  is  reduced  to  a  system,  and  on 
the  observance  of  this  system  success  of  the  nefarious 
vocation  depends.  The  women  who  are  employed  in 
this  department  of  crime  are  mostly  intelligent,  neat 
and  good  looking  negroes  or  mulattoes.  Men  who 
have  been  robbed,  do  not  usually  care  to  have  it 
known  that  they  have  been  keeping  company  with  a 
colored  woman,  especially  if  they  happen  to  be  well- 
to-do  men  of  family  in  some  rural  town.  They  bluster 
and  make  a  great  ado  about  the  matter  in  the  police 


428 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


station,  but  when  their  name,  residence  and  business 
are  taken  down,  and  they  find  that  all  their  night 
frolic  is  to  come  out  in  the  public  print,  they  let 
the  proceedings  go.    Panel-thieves  count  on  this. 

THE  PANEL-HOUSE. 

The  place  selected  is  usually  a  basemenx  m  a  quiet 
neighborhood,  the  more  respectable  the  better.  Often 
panel-thieves  hire  a  basement.  The  party  who  rents 
it,  or  who  lives  in  the  house,  does  not  know  who  his 
neighbor  is  But  usually  it  is  for  purposes  w^e  will 
name  by-and-by.  All  concerned  are  interested  in  the 
game.  The  room  is  papered  and  a  panel  cut  in  the 
paper,  or  one  of  the  panels  is  fitted  to  slide  softly. 
The  room  contains  a  bed,  a  single  chair,  and  a  few 
articles  for  chamber  use, — the  whole  not  worth  over 
fifty  dollars.  The  bolts,  and  bars,  and  locks  are  pe- 
culiar, and  so  made  as  to  seem  to  lock  on  the  inside, 
though  they  do  not.  They  really  fasten  on  the  out- 
side. And  while  the  visitor  imagines  he  has  locked 
all  comers  out,  he  has  really  locked  in  himself,  and 
cannot  escape  till  he  has  been  robbed,  A  rural  gen- 
tleman from  the  country  leaves  his  hotel  about  ten 
o'clock  at  night  to  see  the  sights.  He  meets  a  neatly 
dressed  and  fine-looking  woman,  with  whom  he  has  a 
talk.  She  has  a  sad  story  to  tell  of  domestic  cruelty. 
She  has  been  driven  to  the  street,  and  never  accosted 
a  gentleman  before,  and  would  not  now,  did  not  want 
drive  her  to  it.  The  country  gentleman  is  capti- 
vated. His  sympathies  are  touched.  She  incident- 
ally names  a  modest  sum  for  her  companv.  He  r^ro- 
poses  a  walk  to  look  at  her  house.    On  the  way  the 


Panel  Thieving, 


429 


woman  details  some  of  her  personal  history,  and  in 
return  finds  out  where  her  companion  is  from,  and 
whether  he  has  money  worth  the  trouble  of  taking 
him  home  to  pluck.  She  keeps  up  the  role  of  an 
abused  w^oman  on  her  first  street  walk,  and  the  man 
becomes  quite  social.  The  house  is  reached,  is  quite 
respectable,  and  in  a  decent  neighborhood ;  so  the 
parties  enter.  A  plainly  furnished  basement  is  seen, 
but  all  is  neat,  cosy,  and  tidy.  As  the  woman  takes 
oif  her  bonnet  and  shawd,  she  is  seen  to  be  dressed 
plainly,  but  with  good  taste.  The  door  is  carefully 
bolted,  or  supposed  to  be.  The  price  agreed  on  is 
paid  in  advance,  partly  to  see  how  full  the  wallet  is 
stuffed,  partly  that  the  man  may  have  no  occasion  to 
take  out  his  wallet  till  he  gets  to  his  hotel,  or  at  least 
gets  out  of  the  house,  for  he  might  find  out  that  he 
had  been  robbed,  and  so  make  trouble.  He  must  put 
his  clothes  on  the  chair,  for  there  is  no  other  spot 
except  the  fioor  to  lay  them.  The  chair  is  put  quite 
a  distance  from  the  bed,  so  that  the  robbery  can  be 
safely  committed. 

EOBBEEY. 

At  a  given  signal  the  panel  slides,  and  the  confed- 
erate creeps  in  on  his  hands  and  knees,  and  searches 
the  pants.  All  the  money  is  not  taken ;  for  this  rea- 
son none  of  the  parties  are  brought  before  the  courts; 
the  factwdll  appear  that  the  man  had  some  money  left 
— a  thing  not  creditable  if  robbed  in  a  panel-house,  and 
he  will  find  it  difficult  to  convince  the  judge  that  he 
did  not  spend  the  missing  money  when  he  was  drunk. 
Another  reason  for  leaving;  some  m^^f^v  is.  that  the 
bulk  in  the  pocket-book  must  not  be  so  reduced  as  to 


430 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


excite  suspicion.  When  quite  a  bulk  is  removed,  care- 
fully prepared  packages,  about  the  size,  are  put  in  the 
place  of  the  money.  When  the  robbery  has  been  com- 
pleted, and  the  thief  has  crept  out  of  the  room  and 
closed  the  panel,  aloud  knocking  is  heard  at  the  door. 
The  woman  starts  up  in  fright,  and  announces  the 
arrival  of  her  husband.  The  man  hastily  dresses, 
and  makes  his  escape  from  the  front  basement  door. 
In  his  flight  he  finds,  by  feeling,  that  his  pocket  book 
is  all  right.  He  reaches  his  hotel,  and  usually  not 
till  morning  does  he  knovr  that  he  has  been  robbed. 
His  first  step  is  to  seek  the  residence  of  the  panel 
thief  and  demand  his  money.  But  how  can  he  find 
it?  The  woman,  to  escape  detection,  led  the  man 
through  by-lanes  and  dark  alleys.  And  should  he 
find  the  house,  he  could  not  identify  it.  If  he  could, 
he  would  not  find  the  woman  or  her  confederate.  If 
the  house  was  a  large  one,  all  the  furniture  in  the 
room  w^ill  be  changed.  It  will  probably  be  the  abode 
of  a  physician,  who,  indignant  at  the  attempt  to  con- 
vict him  of  panel-thieving,  and  to  ruin  his  practice, 
will  threaten  to  shut  the  libeller  up  in  the  Tombs. 
As  a  last  resort,  the  victim  will  go  to  the  police ; 
but  as  the  woman  is  at  Brooklyn,  Harlem,  Jersey 
City,  or  some  new  abode  far  from  the  robbery,  nothing 
can  be  done,  and  the  man  must  bear  the  loss.  And 
so  the  panel  game  goes  on  from  year  to  year. 

Aside  from  the  fact  that  the  victim  of  this  game 
does  not  wish  his  name  to  appear  in  the  newspajDers, 
there  is  very  little  sympathy  from  the  public  or  the 
police  for  those  who  are  robbed  in  this  way.  So  the 
victim  is  silent ;  for  to  make  the  matter  public  is  a 
confession  of  his  own  vice  and  verdancy. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 
POLITICAL  MACHINES. 


THE  POLITICAL  ORGANIZATIONS  OF  THE  METROPOLIS  AS  MAMMOTH  AS 
ITS  BUSINESS  ENTERPRISES  —  HALLS  AND  FACTIONS  — HOW  A  CAM- 
PAIGN IS  CONDUCTED — THE  USE  OF  MONEY  IN  ELECTIONS. 


N^EW  YORK  has  alwa3^s  been  controlled  by 
political  factions.  While  no  early  record 
was  kept  of  the  Knickerbocker's  aspirations  for  office, 
it  is  pretty  certain  that  the  early  Dutch  settlers  had 
the  public  place  bee  in  their  bonnets.  Certain  it  is 
that  shortly  after  the  English  obtained  control  there 
were  five  candidates  for  town  constable,  and  one 
Peter  Weldon,  who  kept  a  coffee  house  in  Hanover 
street,  secured  the  coveted  prize.  Coming  down  to 
modern  times,  however,  the  most  prominent  of  all  the 
factions  was  the  one  presided  over  by  William  M. 
Tweed.  There  had  been  the  struggle  for  supremacy 
between  the  Wood- Weed-Webb  elements,  and  John 
Morrissey  and  John  Kelly  w^ere  second  only  to  Sey- 
mour and  Tilden  as  political  factors,  when  Tweed 
found  himself  on  the  topmost  w^ave  of  popularity  and 
power.  He  controlled  the  city  during  his  term  of 
Mayor  in  the  expiring  sixties,  as  it  was  never  con- 
trolled. The  paving  and  water  rings  under  his  super- 
visorship  were  something  appalling.    The  Genet's, 


432  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Sweeney's  and  O'Brien's  carried  matters  with  a  bold 
hand,  and  the  down-trodden  opposition  was  crushed 
and  cowed  until  it  resented,  and  then  the  end  quickly 
came.  Tilden  and  Kelly  joined  hands  and  the' Tweed 
ring  was  broken.  In  the  matter  of  street  paving 
alone,  fourteen  millions  were  stolen  in  one  brief  sea- 
son by  the  Tweed  men.  But  Tweed  was  popular. 
The  poor  idolized  Jim  Fisk,  but  they  worshipped 
Tweed.  At  one  time  there  were  no  less  than  sixty- 
three  Tweed  ward  and  district  organizations  in  the 
city. 

KELLY  AND  TAMMANY. 

John  Kelly's  rule  over  Tammany  never  amounted 
to  a  great  deal  until  1873.  Mr.  Kelly  had  been  in 
Congress  and  made  a  popular  sheriff,  but  he  never 
wholly  developed  his  great  strength  and  masterly 
abilities  until  he  took  the  Tammany  helm.  He  made 
it  the  most  perfect  machine  in  the  history  of  politics. 
Honest  to  the  last  degree,  Mr.  Kelly  purified  New 
York  politics.  He  ruled  with  a  rod  of  iron  and 
never  did  monarch  have  more  loyal  subjects.  No 
matter  whether  Tammany  Hall  could  poll  fifteen 
thousand  or  seventy-five  thousand  votes,  under  the 
leadership  of  John  Kelly,  she  obtained  the  lion's 
share  of  the  public  patronage.  In  1879  eighteen 
hundred  Tammany  men  were  serving  the  city  in  a 
substantial  manner,  as  evidenced  by  the  pay  rolls. 
Every  man  in  twenty,  in  other  w^ords,  held  a  good 
fat  office.  As  an  organizer  John  Kelly  was  without 
a  peer.  In  1879  he  quarreled  for  the  second  time 
with  Tilden,  the  reformer,  and  in  order  to  defeat 


Political  Machines. 


433 


Eobinson,  Tilden's  Gubernatorial  candidate  and  the 
nominee  of  the  State  Democratic  Convention,  he  ran 
as  an  Independent  Democratic  candidate  for  Gov- 
ernor. The  result  was  the  defeat  of  Robinson,  and 
the  election  of  Cornell,  Republican,  for  Kelly  drew 
from  Robinson  nearly  eighty  thousand  Democratic 
votes.  So  thoroughly  did  the  Tammany  boss  know 
his  strength,  that  in  a  computation  of  his  votes  by 
townships  and  precincts  the  day  preceding  the  elec- 
tion, he  came  within  two  hundred  of  it  in  round  num- 
bers. He  was  the  first  man  to  make  a  successful 
from  house-to-house  poll  of  the  city.  His  dissatisfac- 
tion with  Cleveland  proved  the  practical  downfall  of 
his  organization.  He  did  not  believe  in  the  Civil 
Service  Reform  theories  of  the  man  of  destiny,  and 
so  believing  underestimated  Cleveland's  strength. 
He  carefully  calculated  the  vote  of  the  State  and 
city,  and  then  went  to  work  to  defeat  Cleveland  by 
a  hair;  by  a  majority  so  small  that  it  could  only  be 
located  and  yet  not  traced ;  a  defeat  wherein  Tam- 
many would  be  thought  by  the  country  at  large  in 
the  phalanx  of  the  defeated.  He  traded  Tammany 
votes  for  Blaine  in  exchange  for  Republican  votes 
for  his  county  ticket  until  it  seemed  that  all  would 
go  well.  But  there  was  a  slight  error — he  could  have 
thrown  twenty-five  thousand  additional  votes  to  Blaine 
had  he  thought  them  necessary — and  Cleveland 
gained  the  White  House.  Then  John  Kelly  suc- 
cumbed. 

COUNTY  DEMOCEACY  AND  lEVING  HALL. 

There  were  always  seceders  and  kickers  from  Tarn- 


434 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


many,  men  tired  of  wearing  the  boss'  collar.  The 
better  class  became  members  of  the  County  Democ- 
racy. They  were  the  silk  stocking  element,  the  men 
from  Murray  Hill  and  the  resident  wards  of  the  city. 
The  Irving  Hall  people  belonged  to  the  Bowe's, 
Creame's,  Mike  Norton  and  Jimmy  O'Brien.  They 
had  from  time  to  time  been  kicked  out  of  old  Tam- 
many, the  parent  stem.  They  were  never  so  happy 
as  when  plotting  a  job,  making  a  deal  with  Shed 
Shook,  Jake  Hess  and  John  J.  O'Brien  of  the  Eepub- 
lican  machine,  which  gave  promise  of  squaring  ac- 
counts with  Kelly.  They  got  the  Sheriff's  office,  and 
then  in  1878,  united  with  the  County  Democracy  for 
a  grand  sweep.  The  united  factions  elected  Edward 
Cooper  mayor,  and  they  worked  well  until  Kelly 
elected  Grace  in  1880.  Then  came  the  decline  of 
Irving  Hall.  To-day  it  amounts  to  nothing,  while 
Tammany  is  liable,  phenix  like  to  rise  from  the 
ashes  of  political  ruin  any  day.  The  County  Democ- 
racy persevered  and  is  now  supreme. 

The  Republicans  have  not  manifested  much  strength 
in  New  York  City  for  years.  They  can  do  fairly 
well  in  ward  contests,  but  when  anything  of  conse- 
quence is  at  stake,  the  machine  sells  out  the  party. 
It  takes  money  and  patronage  to  lubricate  the  cogs, 
and  the  Republicans  never  could  collect  the  former, 
and  it  was  so  easy  for  the  leaders  to  secure  from  the 
victors  a  share  of  the  latter  sufficient  to  ward  off  the 
wolf.  Now  that  a  Labor  party  has  come  into  exist- 
ence, the  Republicans  may  be  able  to  do  a  little  bet- 
ter. Here  is  a  pretty  correct  estimate  of  the  city's 
political  complexion  to-day :  County  Democracy,  sixty 


Political  Machines, 


435 


thousand ;  Tammany,  fifty  thousand ;  Irving  Hall, 
eight  thousand ;  Republicans,  fifty  thousand  ;  Labor, 
fifty  thousand.  Total,  two  hundred  and  eighteen 
thousand. 

USE  OF  MOITEY  IN  ELECTIONS. 

In  New  York  on  the  evening  of  February  28, 1887, 
an  address  was  delivered  before  the  Commonwealth 
,  Club  which  illustrates  the  enormous  cost  of  running 
what  are  called  the  "  political  machines"  in  New 
York  City.  City  Chamberlain  William  M.  Ivins  was 
the  speaker,  and  his  theme  was  the  "  Use  of  Money 
in  Elections. "  After  promising  that  he  would  con- 
fine his  remarks  to  this  subject  without  any  sug- 
gested remedy,  as  that  was  to  be  a  matter  for  future 
discussion,  Mr.  Ivins  said  that  fifteen  years  ago  he 
had  decided  to  find  out  what  the  management  of  New 
York  City  politics  was,  and  he  had  been  engaged  in 
it  ever  since.  He  had  learned  practically  what  party 
machinery  was,  having  stood  in  that  time  in  the 
place  of  either  a  wheel  or  a  pivot  in  one  of  the 
machines,  or,  at  any  rate,  had  been  so  situated  that 
he  could  see  all  the  wheels  and  pivots.  He  believed 
that  the  political  machinery  of  New  York  was  the 
result  of  the  inefficiency  of  the  election  laws,  and  not 
of  the  Democratic  system  of  government.  Great 
freedom  characterized  the  earlier  elections  in  this 
city,  the  only  restraint  being  an  inspector  of  elections, 
and  this  lasted  until  the  time  of  William  M.  Tweed, 
when,  on  account  of  the  great  frauds  which  had  been 
perpetrated  under  his  rule,  a  change  had  to  be  made. 
A  registration  law  was  passed  which  gave  birth  to 


436 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


the  law  now  in  existence  which  makes  fraud  in  elec- 
tions a  practical  impossibility.  One  of  the  many 
peculiar  features  of  the  law  was  its  recognition  of 
the  three  subdivisions  of  the  Democratic  party.  Mr. 
Ivins  then  gave  a  description  of  the  city's  division 
into  812  election  districts,  and  showed  how  large  an 
army  of  paid  officers  of  election  were  employed  to 
do  duty  at  the  polls.  The  Republican  Police  Com- 
missioners appointed  their  election  officers,  and  the 
Democratic  Police  Commissioners  appointed  theirs, 
the  total  number  of  appointments  being  9,000.  The 
thirty-five  police  captains  of  the  city  had  the  selec- 
tion of  the  polling  place — a  quite  important  piece  of 
patronage.  The  appropriation  to  the  Police  Board 
by  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  for 
last  year's  election  was  $222,500,  and  the  total  cost 
of  the  legal  machinery  was  $291,000,  which  was 
cheaper  by  $200,000  than  what  it  used  to  be.  The 
real  mainspring  of  the  parties'  action  at  election  time 
was  the  district  leader,  who  really  settled  all  import- 
ant questions  of  the  campaign.  Then  there  were 
election  district  captains,  whom  the  district  leaders 
provided  for  by  getting  them  quartered  on  the  city. 
A  strong  class  feeling  existed  among  these  leaders, 
and  whatever  party  was  in  power  each  tried,  irre- 
spective of  party,  to  help  his  brother  leader  of  the 
other  side  to  get  his  men  placed.  During  the  last 
election  the  city  paid  its  seventy-two  election  district 
leaders  $330,000,  or  an  average  of  $4,750  each.  The 
amount  now  being  paid  these  leaders  from  the  pub- 
lic Treasury  is  $242,000,  of  which  eighteen  out  of 
Tammany  Hall's  twenty-four  leaders  get  $119,000, 


Political  Machines.  437 


seventeen  out  of  the  County  Democracy's  leaders  get 
$90,000  and  eight  out  of  the  Republican  party's 
I  twenty-four  leaders  get  $32,000.  Not  less  than 
$750,000  was  invested  in  the  same  way  among  poli- 
tical captains,  heelers,  and  hangers  on.  The  subject 
of  assessments  on  candidates  was  then  taken  up. 
the  nomination  for  the  office  of  city  clerk  or  register 
from  $15,000  to  $40,000  was  paid.  Besides  this  can- 
didates for  these  high  offices  had  to  pay  sums  to 
other  parties,  one  of  them  having  complained  to 
the  speaker  that  he  had  to  pay  $5,000  each  to  three 
persons  who  could  not  do  him  any  good.  Candidates 

I for  the  Senate  have  paid  as  high  as  $30,000  election 
expenses.  Candidates  for  judicial  positions  paid  as 
much  as  $20,000.  For  the  Supreme  Bench,  $10,000 
to  $15,000  was  a  common  assessment.  The  Controller 
;l  paid  $10,000.  Mayor  Edson  paid  $10,000  each  to 
Tammany  Hall  and  the  County  Democracy,  and 
'  $5,000  to  Irving  Hall.  Mayor  Grace  paid  $10,000  to 
the  County  Democracy,  and  the  Citizens'  Committee 
expended  $10,000  more  on  his  behalf.  John  Eeilly 
paid  Tammany  Hall  $40,000  for  the  regular  nomina- 
tion in  1883.  The  average  expenditure  for  candidates 
in  a  city  election  during  an  ordinary  election  was  as 
follows: — Two  aldermanic  candidates  at  $15  for  each 
of  812  districts,  $24,360  ;  two  Assembly  candidates, 
$10  per  district,  $16,240;  two  candidates  for  Senate 
or  Congress,  at  $25  per  district,  $40,600 ;  four  candi- 
dates for  judgeships,  at  $10,000  each,  $40,000 ;  two 
candidates  for  mayor,  at  $20,000  each,  $40,000;  two 
candidates  for  city  offices,  such  as  sheriff,  $20,000  ; 
two  candidates  for  Controller,  at  $10,000,  $20,000 ; 


438       ^        WONDEES  OF  A  GREAT  OlTY. 


two  candidates  for  district  attorney,  at  $5,000,  $10,- 
000 — total,  $211,200.  Added  to  these  expenses  was 
tlie  cost  of  printing  tickets  and  mailing  them  to  the 
different  registered  voters.  During  a  Presidential 
campaign  the  figures  were  largely  increased.  The 
candidates  had  to  spend  money.  As  an  example  of 
extraordinary  expenditure,  he  cited  the  case  of  the 
party  of  650  who  attended  the  last  Democratic  Con- 
vention in  Chicago  and  managed  to  spend  $690,000, 
without  including  what  was  paid  out  over  the  bar. 
What  this  would  amount  to  could  be  guessed  by  the 
fact  that  during  a  lively  election  the  Hoffman  house 
in  New  York  City  took  in  $2,000  over  the  bar  in  a 
single  day.  Concluding,  Mr.  Ivins  said  it  cost  for 
every  election  in  each  of  the  812  districts  from  $75  to 
$100  for  the  County  Democracy,  from  $75  to  $100  for 
Tammany  Hall,  about  $15  for  Irving  Hall,  about  $15 
for  independent  candidates,  and  enough  from  the 
Republicans  to  make  a  grand  total  of  $216,000. 


i 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
FORTUNE'S  EBB  AND  FLOW. 


HOW  MONEY  IS  LOST  AND  MADE  IN  SPECULATION — THE  WEALTH  OP  WALL 
STREET — POOR  BOYS  AND  RICH  MEN — A  FEW  ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  THE 
METHODS  BY  WHICH  OPERATORS  CAN  SUCCESSFULLY  DEFY  FICKLE 
FORTUNE — A  GLIMPSE  AT  THE  OTHER  SIDE  OP  THE  SUBJECT — IN- 
FATUATED WOMEN  WHO  DESIRE  TO  DABBLE  IN  STOCKS — A  SUCCESS- 
FUL GREENHORN. 

THE  subject  of  speculation  has  become  tlie  most 
interesting  of  national  studies.  It  has  com- 
pletely dwarfed  political  economy  which  held  the 
palm  for  so  many  decades.  The  mass  of  the  Ameri- 
can people  have  become  speculators,  and  the  most 
daring  of  all,  the  most  unflinching  spirits,  are  to  be 
found  in  New  York.  It  is  doubtful  if  Jay  Gould, 
Russell  Sage,  Cyrus  W.  Field,  Austin  Corbin,  Frank- 
lin Gowen,  Sam  Sloan,  George  Seney,  Secretary 
Whitney,  P.  D.  Armour,  Norman  Ream,  J.  D. 
Hutchinson,  Henry  Clews,  J.  I.  Davis,  Sidney  Dillon, 
and  a  score  of  other  prominent  operators  could  exist 
if  barred  out  of  Wall  street. 

While  many  of  the  "  speculators"  fail  utterly,  many 
also  become  wealthy.  Speculators  are  at  the  head  of 
banks,  railroads,  gigantic  corporations,  and  the  great 
moneyed  institutions  of  New  York.  They  own  baro- 
nial country  seats,  the  most  expensive  dwellings  in 


440  Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


the  city,  and  keep  "up  their  establishments  in  costly 
style.  The  livered  servants  in  the  Park;  stables  cost- 
ing from  fifty  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars; 
extravagant  and  gorgeous  teams,  with  two,  four  and 
six  horses;  with  from  one  to  a  dozen  fast  teams,  cost- 
ing from  ten  to  fifty  thousand  each ;  the  most  valu- 
able blocks  in  the  city,  and  imported  furniture,  be- 
long to  Wall  street  operators.  Somebody  must  make 
money,  and  there  must  be  a  way  to  make  it  in  the 
street.  I  have  shown  that  losses  in  the  street  are 
tremendous,  and  almost  inevitable.  Ninety-eight  out 
of  every  hundred,  who  have  to  do  with  the  street, 
are  cleaned  out  and  ruined.  Reverses  are  of  daily 
occurrence.  The  fortunate  speculators  of  to-day  are 
overwhelmed  with  disasters  to-morrow.  The  boldest 
and  most  successful  operators  die  poor.  Country 
speculators,  small  capitalists  from  the  rural  districts, 
professional  men  and  business  men,  who  go  into  the 
street,  to  try  their  fortunes,  invariably  lose  Avhat 
they  invest.  Theii^  ruin  is  only  a  matter  of  time. 
The  question  comes.  How  is  it  that  some  speculators 
are  so  fortunate,  and  roll  in  luxury,  and  the  great 
mass  are  cleaned  out?  The  question  is  one  of  great 
interest — "  Who  makes  money  in  Wall  street,  and 
who  loses  money  ? " 

Any  one  who  wishes  can  make  money  in  Wall 
street,  or  in  any  other  part  of  New  York.  Making 
money  is  a  trade.  The  laws  of  the  universe  are  not 
more  unbending  and  regular  than  the  law  of  success 
in  Wall  street.  Industry,  honesty,  perseverance, 
sticking  to  one  thing,  invariably  lead  to  success  in 
any  reputable  calling.    There  are  wealthy  men  in 


Fortune's  Ebb  and  Flow.  441 


New  York,  who  began  life  picking  np  rags  in  the 
street  They  cleaned  the  filthy  waifs,  sold  them,  and 
tried  again.  Their  budget  was  just  what  it  was 
represented  to  be.  From  the  str^t  or  ash  barrel 
they  obtained  a  supply  from  houses.  Business  in- 
creased; a  little  shanty  was  taken,  help  was  needed, 
and  the  rag  picker  became  a  wholesale  dealer- — • 
his  shanty  grew  into  a  warehouse,  and  the  paper 
makers  throughout  the  country  deal  with  him  to-day. 

A  poor  Scotch  widow  returned  to  her  scanty  rooms 
in  Chambers  street,  having  buried  her  husband. 
She  was  penniless,  as  well  as  desolate.  To-morrow's 
bread  was  uncertain.  Perhaps  the  shelter  of  the  roof 
would  be  denied  her,  as  she  had  no  money  to  pay  the 
rent.  She  had  two  little  boys,  one  of  them  proposed 
to  his  mother  to  make  a  little  molasses  candy,  and 
he  would  take  it  out  into  the  street  and  sell  it,  as  he 
had  seen  other  children  do.  The  candy  w^as  really 
very  nice.  It  was  placed  on  a  tray,  covered  with  an 
attractive  white  cloth,  and  the  boy  was  put  in  a  clean 
dress.  He  went  around  among  the  merchants,  and 
found  a  ready  sale  for  his  commodity.  His  sales 
grew — his  coming  was  watched  for.  The  widow  set 
up  a  little  store.  The  business  increased.  The  manu- 
facture of  sugar  followed.  The  brand  of  the  house 
became  celebrated  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  The 
penniless  boys  are  now  millionaires  on  Fifth  avenue. 
Their  donations  to  religion  and  benevolence  are  the 
largest  in  the  country.  Their  sugar  is  known  through- 
out the  civilized  world.  Not  a  pound  of  impure 
candy  can  be  purchased  at  the  establishment.  The 
Queen  of  England  is  a  patron  of  the  house.  She 


442  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


sends  annually,  through  the  great  banking  house  of 
Baring  Brothers,  for  a  supply  of  candy. 

A  poor  boy  on  Long  Island  was  apprenticed  to  a 
printing  house  in,  New  York.  The  morning  he  left 
his  home,  his  mother  laid  her  hands  on  his  head,  and 
said,  "James,  you  have  got  good  blood  in  you — be  an 
honest  and  good  boy,  and  you  will  succeed. "  His 
clothes  were  homespun,  his  shoes  heavy  and  ill  fitting, 
and  he  did  the  dirty  work  of  a  printing  office.  He 
worked  near  Pearl  street  and  Franklin  Square.  Gentle- 
men lived  there  in  those  days ;  lawyers,  merchants, 
and  bankers.  *As  James  went  to  and  fro  from  his 
work,  often  bearing  the  slops  through  the  street,  he 
was  taunted  by  the  pampered  children  of  the  then 
upper  classes  of  New  York.  They  taunted  him  with 
his  servile  work,  jostled  him  on  his  way,  sported  with 
his  poverty,  and  jested  about  his  ill  fitting  clothes. 
He  held  on  his  course,  patiently,  hopefully;  the 
words  of  his  mother  ringing  constantly  in  his  ear. 
He  founded  one  of  the  largest  houses  in  the  land ; 
known  in  all  quarters  of  the  globe,  which  to-day, 
after  a  successful  career  of  half  a  century,  is  honored 
and  prospered  still.  He  became  a  magistrate  of  the 
city,  and  had  prouder  titles  given  him  by  the  poor, 
lowly,  and  suffering.  He  lived  to  see  these  proud 
houses,  whose  children  had  taunted  him,  topple  down. 
Those  very  children  came  tohim,  and  asked  for  employ- 
ment, many  of  them  in  their  penury,  asking  for  aid. 

In  the  smallest  possible,  way,  a  resolute  lad  began 
to  make  a  living.  Gathering  the  hoofs  from  slaugh- 
ter houses,  and  from  dead  and  deserted  animals,  he 
manufactured  a  little  glue.    It  bore  the  stamp  of  ex- 


Fortune's  Ebb  and  Flow. 


443 


cellence  from* the  start,  wliicli  it  has  never  lost.  Mat 
ing  the  article  genuine,  it  led  the  market.  That  boy 
is  now  one  of  the  most  eminent  citizens  of  the  city. 
His  donations  are  larger  than  those  of  any  man  ex- 
cept Astor.  He  has  not  forgotten  his  low  estate  nor 
is  he  ashamed  of  his  early  origin.  The  recipients  of 
his  bounty  are  artizans  and  the  men  and  women  in 
humble  life  who  seek  culture,  and  desire  to  be  wise 
in  science  and  art. 

The  President  of  one  of  the  great  express  companies 
in  this  city,  who  has  attained  great  wealth,  and  whose 
reputation  as  a  business  man,  and  a  man  of  integrity, 
is  second  to  none  in  the  land,  worked  his  way  up  from 
the  lowest  beginnings.  Some  of  the  great  book  men 
of  the  city  began  life  as  newsboys,  selling  papers  on 
the  street. 

The  great  express  man  of  the  west,  who  has  given 
his  name  to  most  of  the  express  companies,  because 
his  name  is  a  synonym  of  honor,  began  life  a  stable 
boy,  then  drove  stages,  then  owned  stage  lines,  began 
the  express  business  in  the  humblest  way,  and  being 
always  the  same  faithful,  honest  persevering  man,  is 
now  one  of  the  richest  men  in  the  State. 

The  richest  man  in  Brooklyn  peddled  milk — he 
peddled  good  milk.  He  bought  the  best  cows,  and 
with  a  little  money  scraped  together,  bought  a  pas- 
ture, far  up  in  the  country,  that  his  cows  might  be 
under  his  own  eye.  That  cow  pasture  has  been  cut 
up  into  lots,  and  is  covered  with  the  splendid  man- 
sions of  Brooklyn  Heights.  The  milk  man  is  a 
millionaire. 

An  old  man  died  in  New  York,  leaving  two  daugh- 


444  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


ters.  "Don't  sell  the  old  pasture,"  was  the  dying 
injunction  of  the  father.  The  family  became  very 
poor — they  lived  in  chambers.  They  cut  and  carved 
every  way  to  get  along.  They  had  to  give  up  the 
family  pew  in  the  old  church.  The  taxes  and  assess- 
ments were  so  heavy  that  more  than  once  they  re- 
solved to  sell  the  pasture,  as  the  price  was  temptingly 
high.  They  held  on.  The  old  pasture  is  occupied 
now  by  fashionable  New  York.  In  the  centre,  is  one 
of  the  finest  private  parks  in  the  city — it  bears  the 
name  of  the  family.  Lordly  mansions  occupy  the 
grounds.  Costly  churches  have  been  erected  upon  it. 
The  children  of  these  heroic  women  are  among  the 
wealthiest;  and  the  husband  of  one  of  the  children, 
whose  wealth  no  one  attempts  to  compute,  is  a  high 
official  at  Washington. 

WHO  MAKE  M0]S"EY  ON  WALL  STREET. 

1st.  Those  who  trade  legitimately  in  stocks.  A 
commission  house  in  Wall  street,  that  buys  and  sells 
stocks,  as  a  trade,  and  does  nothing  else,  must  make 
money.  It  cannot  be  otherwise.  Such  men  run  no 
risks.  A  legitimate  house  never  buys  stocks  without 
a  margin.  The  operator  holds  the  stocks,  watches 
the  market,  and  can  protect  himself  when  he  will. 
The  great  temptation  is  to  speculate.  Why  make  a 
paltry  commission,  when  by  a  nice  investment,  thous- 
ands may  be  secured?  Few  houses  are  successful, 
because  few  adhere  to  the  rule,  rigidly,  not  to  touch 
anything  as  a  speculation,  however  tempting  the  offer. 
One  of  the  heaviest  houses  in  New  York,  that  went 
down  on  the  Black  Friday,  failed  because  it  added 


Fortune's  Ebb  and  Flow 


445 


speculation  to  a  commission  business.  For  years  tlie 
house  refused  to  speculate.  It  became  one  of  the 
most  honored,  and  trusty,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
successful.  While  the  principal  partner  was  absent 
in  Europe,  his  associates  ventured  on  a  little  specu- 
lation. It  proved  successful,  and  the  house  became 
one  of  the  largest  operators  in  Wall  street.  The 
crash  came,  as  it  comes  to  all  such,  and  the  ruin  was 
terrible.  Had  the  house  been  content  to  follow  the 
legitimate  business  that  made  it,  it  would  have  stood 
to-day. 

2d.  Operators  make  money  who  buy  in  a  panic. 
Few  men  in  Wall  street  can  invest  during  a  panic. 
When  stocks  are  low,  and  growing  lower,  and  the  bot- 
tom seems  to  be  knocked  out  of  everything,  specula- 
tors are  at  their  wits'  end,  like  men  in  a  storm  at  sea. 
Then,  cool,  shrewd,  careful  capitalists  buy.  Men  in 
California,  Chicago,  Baltimore,  Boston,  Buffalo,  have 
standing  orders  with  their  brokers,  to  buy  when  stocks 
are  low.  These  are  quiet  men,  that  know  that  the 
law  of  the  street  is  sure  and  stocks  will  recover. 
They  never  buy  on  what  is  called  a  Bull  market,  but 
always  when  stocks  are  low,  and  buy  for  a  rise.  Mil- 
lions change  hands  by  telegraph,  when  the  street  is 
in  a  war. 

3d.  Another  class  that  make  money,  buy  without 
any  reference  to  the  street.  They  select  a  line  of 
stocks,  with  the  value  of  which  they  are  well  ac- 
quainted. They  buy  the  stock  and  pay  for  it.  They 
take  it  home,  and  lock  it  up.  It  is  their  own.  No 
broker  can  sell  them  out.  They  have  no  margin  to 
lose,  and  none  to  keep  good.    If  the  stock  goes  down 


446  Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


twenty  per  cent,  they  are  not  alarmed.  They  know 
that  the  street  will  repeat  itself,  and  that  the  stock 
will  come  up.  They  bide  their  time,  and  sell  out 
when  they  please. 

4th.  Another  class  of  operators  make  money  who 
average  their  stocks.  These  operators  buy  a  line  of 
stocks — a  thousand  shares  of  Lake  Shore  at  ninety. 
An  order  is  left  with  the  broker  to  buy  Erie  as  it 
goes  down,  and  to  keep  purchasing  three  hundred. 
Lake  Shore  falls,  as  other  stocks  go  do^v-n,  but  the 
party  is  securing  other  lines  at  a  lower  rate.  When 
the  market  rises,  they  all  go  up  together.  It  takes 
capital  and  pluck  to  do  this.  Operators  must  have 
money  to  hold  the  thousand  shares,  and  secure  other 
lines  of  stock  to  average  the  decline.  The  wealthy 
operators  on  the  street — the  old  heads,  who  are  sure 
of  a  rise  if  they  wait  for  it,  are  the  men  who  average 
their  stock. 

5th.  Men  make  money  on  the  street  who  are  con- 
tent to  do  a  small  business;  who  are  satisfied  with 
small  profits.  Such  men  are  not  bold  operators,  but 
they  are  very  safe  ones.  Five  hundred  dollars  profit 
is  very  satisfactory.  Most  operators  want  to  make 
money  at  a  blow;  making  five  hundred,  they  re- 
invest it  at  once,  like  a  gambler,  who  having  made 
fifty  dollars,  is  in  a  glow  of  excitement  to  make  a 
hundred.  Such  men  often  buy  the  same  stock  over, 
that  they  have  just  sold,  and  buy  it  at  a  higher  price. 
Instead  of  taking  their  little  gains  out  of  the  street 
and  waiting,  they  try  another  battle  with  fortune,, 
and  continue  till  all  is  swept  away.  Henry  Keep, 
called  "Henry  the  silent"  on  the  street,  was  one  of 


Fortune's  Ebb  and  Flow. 


447 


the  most  successful  operators  that  ever  dealt  in  stocks. 
He  said  to  a  friend  one  day,  "  Would  you  like  to 
know  how  I  made  my  money?  I  did  it  by  cooping 
the  chickens ;  I  did  not  wait  till  the  whole  brood  was 
hatched.  I  caught  the  first  little  chicken  that  chipped 
the  shell,  and  put  it  in  the  coop.  I  then  went  after 
more.  If  there  were  no  more  chickens,  I  had  one 
safe  at  least.  I  never  despised  small  gains.  What 
I  earned,  I  took  care  of.  I  never  perilled  what  I 
had,  for  the  sake  of  grasping  what  I  had  not  secured." 

6th.  Men  who  can  control  the  street  are  sure  to 
make  money.  Gould,  Corbin,  Field,  and  men  of  their 
capital  can  do  this  when  they  please.  When  they 
combine,  they  can  make  the  nation  reel.  If  they 
want  to  control  stocks,  they  buy  them  up,  and  lock 
them  up.  They  can  keep  them  as  long  as  they  please, 
and  sell  them  when  and  as  they  please.  They  can 
run  the  price  up  to  any  height.  These  men  not  only 
make  a  fortune  in  a  day,  but  they  make  fortunes  for 
all  their  friends  whom  they  choose  to  call  in.  The 
permanent  success  among  operators  and  speculators 
is  found  in  the  classes  named. 

WHO  LOSE  MONEY  ON  WALL  STEEET. 

1st.  All  who  are  caught  by  a  panic,  which  in- 
cludes the  great  mass  of  operators,  lose.  One  of  the 
most  mysterious  things  in  Wall  street  is  a  panic,  as 
it  is  one  of  the  most  terrible.  It  is  indescribable  and 
often  causeless.  It  comes  without  warning.  No  wis- 
dom, shrewdness  or  fore-cast  can  anticipate  or  control 
it.  A  distinguished  editor  of  New  York  gave  an  ac- 
count of  a  panic  which  he  shared,  which  seized  the 


448 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


allied  army,  and  spread  terror  through  the  ranks  of 
thousands  of  armed  men — who  fled  pell-mell  in  dis- 
may at  the  appearance  of  the  few  Austrian  cavalry, 
who  had  got  lost  and  were  seeking  food.    The  alarm 
and  terror  of  a  Wall  street  panic  sweeps  away  the 
accumulated  gains  of  many  a  speculation,  and  often 
the  fruits  of  many  years.    Its  bitter  fruits  are  not 
confined  to  the  street.    The  click  of  the  telegraph, 
that  communicates  the  changes  in  Wall  street  every 
five  or  ten  minutes,  to  all  parts  of  the  continent, 
carries  consternation  with  the  intelligence.  Dealers 
in  stocks  are  scattered  all  over  the  land,  capitalists 
tremble  and  business  and  labor  suffer.  When  a  panic 
comes,  it  strikes  the  heavy  men  of  the  street,  as  it 
strikes  all  others.    The  causes  of  a  panic,  are  found. 
1st,  in  combinations  that  tighten  the' money  market. 
Thirty  men  who  can  go  out  on  the  street,  and  call  in 
millions  of  dollars,  out  on  loan,  as  they  ai'e  often 
compelled  to  do,  aid  in  producing  a  panic.    Money  is 
drawn  from  the  city  to  purchase  the  crops  in  the 
country,  and  with  a  tight  money  market  the  street 
must  unload.    2d.  Artful  men  combine,  and  lock  up 
money.    Sometimes  a  combination  secures  control  of 
the  city  funds,  funds  of  the  United  States  govern- 
ment, and  nearly  all  the  money  in  the  banks.    If  the 
combination  that  produced  the  awful  panic  of  Sep- 
tember 24th,  could  have  held  their  grasp  on  gold  and 
greenbacks  twenty-four  hours  longer,  they  would 
have  broke  the  entire  street.    3d.  Panics  come  from 
no  possible  cause — come  when  no  one  can  expect 
them.    A  broker  of  forty  years  standing,  who  is  at 
the  head  of  one  of  the  heaviest  houses  in  New  York, 


FORTUNE'S  Ebb  and  Flow. 


449 


said,  "One  of  tlie  worst  panics  that  I  ever  saw  in  the 
street,  occurred  under  my  own  eye.  I  was  seated  at 
the  Board  one  day,  and  I  never  saw  the  room  more 
quiet.  Every  thing  was  easy  and  buoyant.  Stocks 
were  steady,  the  roads  were  earning  money,  and 
every  thing  was  cheerful.  A  member  present  be- 
longed to  a  house  that  was  carrying  a  very  large  line 
of  stock.  He  offered  two  hundred  shares  for  sale.  A 
man  sat  opposite  to  witness  the  transaction.  He  said 
to  himself,  I  have  some  of  that  stock  ;  if  this  man 
who  is  so  heavily  interested  in  it,  is  about  selling  out, 
something  must  be  the  matter.  I  will  sell  mine  out 
while  I  can.  He  threw  his  on  the  market.  Others 
followed.  A  scene  of  indescribable  excitement  pre- 
vailed. Other  stocks  were  affected.  The  panic  be- 
came universal,  and  inevitable  ruin  followed.  It 
turned  out  that  nothing  was  the  matter ;  that  the 
broker  who  had  caused  the  panic  had  an  order  to  sell. 
4th.  Beside  the  conspiracies,  before  alluded  to, 
panics  are  produced  by  a  combination  of  the  bear 
interest  to  sell  out.  A  stock  is  offered,  the  bulls 
buy  it,  to  prevent  a  fall,  and  if  they  buy  all  that  is 
offered,  they  keep  the  market  up.  The  bears  pile  up 
the  stock,  and  produce  a  panic.  They  throw  on  to 
the  market  more  stock  than  the  bulls  can  take  and  a 
panic  follows. 

2d.  Nearly  every  one  loses  money  who  is  not  in- 
itiated in  the  ways  of  Wall  street.  Stock  jobbing 
is  a  trade.  To  be  successful,  men  must  understand 
it,  and  follow  it  as  a  business.  A  man  would  be 
much  safer  to  order  a  stock  of  goods  from  Europe, 
ignorant  of  the  quality  and  of  the  price, — to  order 


450 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


ten  thousand-  barrels  of  flour  from  the  West,  who 
never  purchased  a  bushel  of  wheat — to  order  cargoes 
of  coal,  knowing  nothing  of  the  trade,  than  to  go  to 
Wall  street  to  make  an  investment.  The  green  men, 
who  do  not  know  the  ways  of  the  street,  are  sure  to 
lose.  Smart  men  elsewhere,  successful  men  in  other 
lines,  will  be  dupes  in  the  street.  The  atmosphere  is 
full  of  rumors.  Sharpers  are  full  of  points,  and  the 
green  speculators  will  first  be  misled,  and  then  be 
fleeced.  They  are  especially  in  peril,  if  they  meet 
with  temporary  success.  Like  men  who  fight  the 
"tiger,"  their  little  successes  only  whet  the  appetite 
for  deeper  playing.  Men  who  make  a  little  fortune 
elsewhere,  come  on  the  street  in  search  of  ventures, 
and  are  easily  duped  to  take  a  flyer,  which  is  as  cer- 
tain to  clean  them  out,  as  they  live. 

3d.  Small  dealers  "lose  money.  These  have  gen- 
erally some  friend  on  the  street,  who  makes  purchases 
for  them,  without  observing  the  rule  of  the  board. 
The  law  of  the  street  requires  a  ten  per  cent,  margin, 
but  some  brokers  are  content  to  take  one  per  cent,  or 
even  a  half.  These  operators  are  friends — cousins 
— members  of  the  same  church^ — or  belong  to  the 
same  fraternity  or  club.  This  class  is  very  large,  and 
is  sure  to  lose  all  that  is  ventured.  The  most  excited 
of  small  operators  are  ladies.  They  place  their  one 
per  cent.,  or  ten  per  cent.,  in  the  hands  of  a  broker, 
and  they  become  perfectly  infatuated.  They  annoy 
and  worry  the  broker  that  buys  for  them,  by  daily 
visitations,  and  their  excited  dreams  of  fortune  gives 
them  no  rest.  A  broker  related  this  incident:  a  lady 
acquaintance  called  at  his  office,  and  insisted  upon 


Fortune's  Ebb  and  Flow.  451 


leaving  with  liim  a  chousand  dollars  for  speculation. 
She  wanted  some  dresses  and  fixings,  and  having 
need  of  more  money  than  her  husband  could  spare, 
she  resolved  to  try  a  venture  on  the  street.  Others 
had  done  so  and  made  a  fortune,  and  there  was  no 
reason  why  she  should  not.  All  argument  and  en- 
treaty were  lost  on  the  excited  creature — a  speculation 
she  would  have,  and  her  money  she  would  leave. 
The  broker  took  her  money  on  one  condition,  that  it 
was  the  last  venture  she  would  make  ;  at  least,  through 
him.  He  locked  her  thousand  dollars  in  his  safe. 
Every  day,  she  came  to  the  office  to  enquire  after  the 
success  of  the  speculation.  Once  or  twice  she  dogged 
him  to  the  house.  She  had  heard  a  report  that  she 
thought  would  interest  him,  and  had  read  something 
in  the  paper  that  she  could  not  understand.  One  day 
she  called  at  the  office,  and  he  met  her  with  a  smile. 
"I  know  you  have  got  good  news  for  me,"  said  the 
lady.  "Yes,"  said  the  broker,  and  "I  will  tell  it  to 
you,  if  you  Avill  renew  the  obligation  given  to  me, 
and  leave  the  street."  She  renew^ed  it.  "Your  thous- 
and dollars  have  gained  you  another  thousand 
dollars."  He  handed  her  a  certified  check.  He  had 
given  her  a  thousand  dollars  to  get  rid  of  her. 

4th.  Industrious  speculators,  hard  working,  ener- 
getic, persistent  operators  in  Wall  street,  fail.  In- 
dustry and  activity  are  not  at  a  premium  on  the 
street.  The  warning  of  the  Bible,  on  making  haste 
to  get  rich,  has  a  significance  among  brokers.  Cool 
operators,  slow,  steady  going  men,  who  think  twice 
before  they  act,  who,  when  they  make  an  operation, 
haul  off  and  wait,  make  the  money.    But  sharp, 


452  Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


energetic  men,  who  have  come  out  on  the  street  to 
make  a  fortune,  and  intend  to  keep  at  it — these  men 
are  sure  to  go  under.  They  make  five  hundred  a  day; 
that  is  nothing;  they  can  as  easily  make  ten  hun- 
dred. Having  done  up  one  little  chore,  they  think 
there  is  time  for  another.  They  feel  that  they  must 
do  something  all  the  time.  Like  men  who  sell  rib- 
bon and  tape,  they  imagine  they  are  only  doing  well, 
as  they  measure  ofE  yard  after  yard.  A  successful 
operator  hauls  ofE  after  he  has  made  a  strike,  whether 
it  is  small  or  large — waits  and  watches  the  market. 

5th.  Operators  who  deal  in  points,  lose  money. 
Wall  street  is  full  of  rumors,  exciting  stories,  and 
statements  of  things  that  are  going  to  happen.  Some 
men  have  secret  information  of  importance.  These 
rumors  are  called  points,  and  men  who  buy  and  sell, 
in  consequence  of  them,  are  said  to  "  deal  on  points." 
Combinations,  conspiracies  and  cliques  start  these 
points  to  affect  the  market,  and  inexperienced  and 
green  operators  are  duped  by  them. 

A  SUCCESSFUL  GEEENHORN. 

The  history  of  Henry  S.  Ives  illustrates  the  rapid- 
ity with  which  success  or  failure  is  made  in  Wall 
streec.  He  is  not  over  twenty-five  years  old,  yet  he 
is  to-day  the  Vice-President  of  an  important  railroad, 
the  head  of  a  prosperous  banking  house  which  occu- 
pies the  large  ofiices  for  many  years  filled  by  Morton, 
Bliss  &  Co.  Moreover  he  is  reputed  to  hold  an 
option  from  Robert  Garrett,  for  the  control  of  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  Big  capitalists  are  said 
to  be  backing  this  young  financier,  and  influential 


Fortune's  Ebb  and  Flow.  453 


banks  are  willing  to  give  him  a  certificate  of  sound 
financial  standing ;  and  now  the  Stock  Exchange, 
eager  for  the  orders  that  he  is  capable  of  placing, 
wipes  out  its  former  action  condemning  his  methods 
and  passes  a  vote  of  confidence  in  him.  Yet  Mr. 
Ives  two  years  ago  was  unheard  of  in  Wall  street. 
When  the  sign  of  Henry  S.  Ives  &  Co.  was  displayed 
in  front  of  Morton,  Bliss  &>  Co.'s  old  ofiices  the  Wall 
street  men  wondered  who  he  was.  They  soon  found 
out.  He  gave  them  a  test  of  his  quality.  One  morn- 
ing seven  or  eight  Stock  Exchange  members  woke  up 
to  find  themselves  "cornered,"  and  by  a  boy  who  had 
just  attained  his  majority. 

Much  has  been  said  about  the  "Mutual  Union  cor- 
ner" since  Mr.  Ives  has  been  negotiating  for  the 
Baltimore  &  Ohio,  and  since  the  present  row  in  the 
exchange,  but  outside  of  the  "street"  few  have 
any  knowledge  of  just  what  the  corner  Avas.  After 
the  Mutual  Union  Telegraph  Company  had  been  ab- 
sorbed by  the  Western  Union  a  new  issue  of  stock 
was  made  in  exchange  for  the  old  stock  and  the 
name  of  the  company  changed.  Nearly  all  the  old 
stock  was  exchanged  for  the  new,  but  a  few  hundred 
shares  of  the  old  were  yet  outstanding.  Young  Mr. 
Ives  saw  in  this  circumstance  a  chance  for  a  shrewd 
speculation,  and  so  was  not  slow  in  carrying  out  his 
ideas.  He  bought  most  of  the  old  stock  as  the  first 
step  in  the  scheme,  then,  as  afterwards  charged  by 
the  exchange,  he  hired  a  man  who  worked  in  an  ex- 
press office  in  Newark  to  create  the  "short"  interest 
which  is  imperatively  necessary  to  the  success  of  any 
corner.    No  one  in  the  "street"  would  have  been 


454  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


likely  to  sell  tlie  stock  short,  but  tke  Newark  man 
gave  orders  to  several  brokerage  houses  to  sell 
Mutual  Union  stock.  They  did  so,  and  other  brokers 
acting  for  Ives,  purchased  the  stock  which  they  sold. 
To  some  of  the  brokers  the  Newark  man  gave  verbal 
orders  and  to  some  he  gave  written  orders.  In  some 
cases,  in  order  to  conceal  the  transaction,  the  brokers 
were  told  to  sell  other  securities  as  well.  The  brokers 
claimed  that  the  Newark  man  promised  to  produce 
the  stock  for  delivery  the  day  after  the  sale  was 
made.  This  he  did  not  do,  and  the  brokers  found 
themselves  short  of  the  stock.  Then  they  woke  up  to 
the  fact  that  there  w^as  only  a  few  hundred  shares  of 
the  stock  in  existence  and  that  they  were  at  the 
mercy  of  young  Mr.  Ives.  The  most  curious  feature 
of  the  corner  w^as  that  if  the  officers  of  the  exchange 
had  not  blundered  the  corner  would  never  have  been 
possible.  When  the  new  stock  w^as  issued  it  was 
"listed"  and  the  exchange  slioi:fld  have  stricken  the 
old  stock  from  the  list.  By  an  oversight  this  was 
not  done.  As  soon  as  the  selling  brokers  found 
themselves  caught  in  a  net  which  they  had  many 
times  spread  for  many  a  "lamb"  they  began  to  plead 
to  be  let  off.  Ives  was  denounced  and  the  corner  was 
declared  to  be  illegitimate  and  wicked,  the  governing 
committee  declared  the  contracts  "off, "the  brokers 
were  saved,  and  Mr.  Ives  barely  escaped  without  loss. 
This  corner  was  not  the  only  charge  brought  against 
"wicked"  Mr.  Ives,  w^hen,  a  few  months  later,  it  was 
decided  to  discipline  Mr.  Doremus  if  he  did  not  sever 
his  relations  with  Ives.  This  he  refused  to  do,  and, 
though  cut  off  from  any  connection  wath  the  ex- 


FoBTUNE's  Ebb  and  Flow, 


455 


change,  Mr.  Ives'  firm  continued  to  grow  in  prosperity 
and  importance. 

Mr.  Ives  displayed  remarkable  skill  in  tke  negotia- 
tions wkich  resulted  in  tlie  purchase  and  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  Cincinnati,  Hamilton  &  Dayton  Railroad, 
and  the  fact  that  he  got  an  option  from  Robert  Gar. 
rett  was  a  further  evidence  of  his  ability.  Still  the 
Mutual  Union  corner  has  hung  over  him  like  a  black 
cloud.  Hence  the  act  of  the  governing  committee  in 
practically  whitewashing  Mr.  Ives  one  year  after 
publicly  proclaiming  him  as  unfit  for  fellowship,  has 
aroused  indignation  among  many  members  of  the  ex- 
change, who  think  that  the  governors  have  been 
guilty  of  weakness  and  inconsistency  in  repudiating 
their  original  action. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


FINANCIAL  IREEGULAKITIES. 


A  NEW  SYNONYM  FOR  CRIME  IN  VOGUE  IN  SPECULATIVE  CIRCLES— THE 
PECULIAR  ATMOSPHERE  OF  NEW  YORk's  FATAL  MAELSTROM — SOME 
OP  THE  IMMORALITIES  OP  THE  STREET  —  HOW  THE  MONEY  GOES — 
THE  GRAY  AND  KETCHUM  METHODS— HUMAN  WRECKS. 


1  only  brought  about  a  new  style  of  business, 
but  the  use  of  new  terms.  Crime,  fraud,  embezzle- 
ment are  called  irregularities.  Men  are  not  criminal 
who  betray  their  trust,  use  money  that  don't  belong 
to  them,  alter  checks,  forge  names,  and  speculate 
with  bonds  put  in  their  house  for  safe  keeping. 
"  But  they  are  sharp  men,  unwise  in  some  things, 
fools  to  go  into  speculations  so  deep — that's  all." 
This  sentiment  is  not  confined  to  Wall  street. 
It  marks  the  age.  It  is  common  to  talk  of 
bribery  and  corruption  in  official  life.  Men  who 
sit  at  the  head  of  affairs  are  bought  and  sold 
in  the  market.  If  a  man  is  elected  to  an  office,  it 
is  a  common  remark,  "  He  will  make  his  pile. "  If  he 
is  not  too  glaring  and  audacious  in  his  thefts,  no  one 
will  meddle  with  him.  If  measures  are  to  be  carried, 
or  to  be  defeated,  money  must  be  raised,  and  put 
into  the  hands  of  certain  men,  or  the  affair  falls 
through.  In  the  city  there  is  a  stout  fight  always  over 


stocks  and  bonds  have  not 


Financial  Irregularities. 


457 


the  office  of  senator.  The  pay  is  three  dollars  a  day  ; 
the  expenses  at  least  fifty.  If  a  railroad  franchise  is 
wanted,  ten  thousand  in  cash,  and  a  block  of  the  stock 
will  carry  it.  Street  railroads  are  obtained  in  the 
same  manner.  The  famous  Harlem  corner  was  crea- 
ted by  the  refusal  of  Vanderbilt  to  pay  blackmail  to 
men  in  power.  Men  pay  cash  of  ten  and  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  to  carry  an  election,  when  the  salary  con- 
nected with  the  office  is  not  a  quarter  of  that  sum. 
Everybody  understands  that  the  ofl&ce  pays  in  some 
way.  Parties  often  come  down  from  Albany,  and  say 
to  individuals  in  the  city,  "What  is  your  office  worth 
to  you  ?  "  As  the  man  makes  from  five  to  twenty 
thousand  a  year,  he  is  a  little  startled.  The  Albany 
man  says,  "The  office  is  going  to  be  abolished.  Fifty 
thousand  will  save  it."  The  excited  New  Yorker  flies 
around,  raises  the  money,  and  the  evil  is  stayed.  The 
manner  in  which  these  things  is  managed  is  as  notori- 
ous as  any  legislation  in  the  land.  Men  who,  a  short 
time  ago,  could  not  get  trusted  for  a  paper  of  tobac- 
co, sport  blood  horses  in  the  park,  and  live  in  style. 
It  is  a  very  common  thing  for  officials  to  leave  their 
position  for  a  sum  named,  and  allow  bills  to  be  put 
through  in  their  absence.  A  New  York  official  has 
more  than  once  notified  the  body  over  which  he  pre- 
sided that  he  would  be  out  of  the  State  when  a  meet- 
ing was  held.  His  custom  v/as  to  take  the  '  ferry  boat 
and  go  to  Jersey  City,  take  a  drink  and  go  home.  He 
avoided  the  responsibility  of  legislation,  while  his 
friends  carried  obnoxious  measures  through.  It  was  well 
known  that  a  bribe  of  fifty  thousand,  and  once  as  high 
as  a  hundred  thousand,  was  paid  for  this  service.  An 


458  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 

official  in  this  neighborhood  had  decided  opinions,  and 
was  supposed  to  be  an  honest  man.  Interested  par- 
ties wanted  an  ordinance  passed  of  great  value  to 
them.  They  knew  the  officer  would  not  sign  the  law, 
and  they  could  not  carry  it  over  his  veto.  A  check 
of  $50,000  was  laid  before  him,  with  the  condition, 
that  on  an  evening  named,  he  should  visit  the  State  of 
New  Jersey,  and  remain  there  one  night. 

ATMOSPHERE  OF  THE  STREET. 

In  such  an  atmosphere  great  crimes  must  be  com- 
mon. The  moral  tone  is  so  low  that  the  temptation 
to  commit  wrong  is  very  great,  and  the  disgrace  and 
punishment  slight.  Dishonesty  is  known  as  shrewd- 
ness, and  fraud  is  regarded  as  being  sharp.  The  loose 
way  of  transacting  business,  the  modern  custom  of 
blending  one's  own  funds  with  other  people's,  and 
using  the  whole  in  speculation,  has  induced  leading 
capitalists  to  refuse  anything  as  an  investment  which 
they  cannot  control.  The  drinking  customs  of  Wall 
Street  have  a  great  deal  to  do  with  its  crimes.  One 
of  the  leading  banks,  at  its  annual  election,  furnishes 
liquor  for  all  in  attendance.  Every  variety  of  strong 
drink  was  in  abundance,  and  huge  bowls  of  strong 
punch  are  provided.  Presidents,  officials,  directors, 
and  clerks  go  in  for  a  carouse.  Staid  old  men  get  so 
boozy  that  they  are  sent  home  in  carriages,  and  young 
men,  frenzied  by  free  liquor,  yell  and  sing  with  de- 
light. Nor  does  it  stop  there  ;  the  example  leads  the 
employees  of  the  bank  to  fashionable  restaurants, 
flashy  and  extravagant  company,  and  to  the  forked 
road  that  leads  to  the  gaming  table  or  Wall  street. 


Financial  Irregularities, 


459 


A  house  went  down  the  other  day,  and  in  answer  to 
the  question  how  it  happened,  one  of  the  proprietors 
said,  "A  glass  of  wine  did  it."  The  house  did  a  large 
business  South  and  West.  It  employed,  among  others, 
a  young  man  of  talent  and  smartness.  He  was  en- 
trusted with  the  collection  of  the  heavy  sums  due 
the  house  in  the  South.  He  was  as  sober  as  clerks 
generally  are,  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  em- 
ployers. He  was  very  successful  in  his  tour,  collected 
large  sums  of  money,  and  reached  New  Orleans  on 
Saturday  night,  on  his  way  home.  He  telegraphed 
his  success,  and  announced  his  intention  of  leaving  on 
Monday  morning.  Sunday  dawned  on  him ;  he  was 
alone  in  a  strange  city.  Some  genteelly-dressed  per- 
sons, apparently  gentlemen,  made  his  acquaintance, 
and,  after  general  conversation,  invited  him  to  take  a 
glass  of  wine.  He  was  accustomed  to  do  this  with  his 
employers,  and  it  would  seem  churlish  for  him  to  re- 
fuse so  courteous  a  request.  If  he  had  gone  to  church, 
he  would  have  escaped  the  temptation.  If  he  had 
been  a  Sunday  School  young  man,  he  would  have 
found  good  society  and  genial  employment.  He  went 
to  the  bar  with  his  new-found  companions.  He  knew 
nothing  more  till  Monday.  His  money,  watch,  and 
jewelry  were  gone,  and  he  found  himself  bankrupt  in 
character,  and  penniless.  He  had  been  drugged.  He 
telegraphed  to  his  house.  The  news  came  in  a  finan- 
cial crisis,  and  the  loss  of  the  money  carried  the  house 
under. 


460 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


REIGN  OF  TERROR  IN  WALL  STREET. 

Desperate,  daring  men  find  Wall  street  a  fitting 
field  for  the  exercise  of  their  talents.  More  than  once 
in  the  history  of  the  street,  combinations  have  been 
formed  to  rob  the  banks. 

During  the  great  fire  in  1836,  which  swept  all  New 
York,  from  Wall  street  to  the  Battery,  and  from  Broad 
street  to  the  water,  the  military  were  on  duty  three 
days  and  three  nights.  The  day  Mayor  Clark  was 
sworn  into  office,  he  received  a  letter  from  the  presi- 
dents of  the  city  banks,  informing  him  that  the  banks 
were  to  suspend  specie  payments,  and  that  they  feared 
a  riot.  The  mayor  was  terribly  frightened,  and  sent 
for  General  Sanford,  who  assured  the  mayor  that  he 
could  keep  the  peace.  The  next  morning  Wall  street 
was  packed  with  people,  who  threatened  to  tear  down 
the  banks  and  get  at  the  specie.  The  First  Division 
was  called  out.  There  was  probably  not  a  man  in  that 
corps  who  was  not  as  excited,  personally,  as  the 
maddened  throng  that  surged  through  the  streets ;  yet 
not  a  man  shrank  from  his  duty,  or  refused  to  obey  his 
connnander.  The  First  Division  were  marched  to  the 
head  of  Wall  street,  except  the  cavalry,  who  were 
stationed  around  the  banks  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
city.  General  Sanford  planted  his  cannon  on  the  flag- 
ging in  front  of  Trinity  Church.  The  cannon  com- 
manded the  whole  of  Wall  street.  He  then  sent  word 
to  the  rioters  that  his  fuse  was  lighted,  and  on  the 
first  outbreak  he  should  fire  upon  the  rioters,  and  that 
peaceable  citizens  had  better  get  out  of  the  way.  The 
announcement  operated   like  magic,  and   in  a  few 


Financial  Irregularities.  461 


minutes  there  was  not  a  corporal's  guard  left  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  banks.  The  citizens  knew  that  the 
troops  would  do  their  duty,  and  that  silent  park  of 
artillery  was  an  efficient  peace  corps. 

An  extra  police  force  is  on  duty  continually.  Adroit 
rogues  and  bold  villains,  by  their  very  audacity,  ac- 
complish their  purpose.  Carrying  gold,  and  a  million 
or  two  of  greenbacks,  about  the  street,  is  as  common 
as  carrying  bundles  and  merchandise  is  in  other  parts 
of  the  city.  Common  drays  are  backed  up  to  the 
great  moneyed  institution,  and  loaded  down  with  gold. 
Rough-looking  persons  they  are  that  handle  the  pre- 
cious stuff,  surrounded  often  by  a  rougher  looking 
crowd.  The  temptation  to  seize  a  bag,  and  make  off 
with  it,  is  a  very  strong  one.  The  very  daring  of  the 
act  makes  it  often  successful.  The  habits  of  bank 
messengers  are  well  known  to  the  "fancy."  The 
money  transactions  of  the  city  are  very  regular.  The 
movement  of  a  hundred  millions  occupies  the  hours  be- 
tween ten  and  two.  Messengers  are  running  in  every 
direction.  A  bank  that  does  a  business  of  twenty 
millions  daily  has  an  army  of  clerks  and  messengers 
on  the  wing  perpetually  —  Out  into  the  street ;  down 
into  cellars;  through  dark  alleys  and  narrow  lanes; 
up  narrow  and  crooked  stairs  —  in  every  direction  the 
messengers  rush,  loaded  down  with  greenbacks  and 
gold,  checks,  bonds,  and  gold  certificates.  Desperate 
men  track  these  messengers,  garrote  them  in  dark 
alleys,  knock  them  senseless,  and  steal  their  treasures ; 
and  more  than  once,  on  the  corner  of  William  and 
Wall  —  the  most  prominent  part  of  the  street — par- 
ties have  been  robbed  in  the  presence  of  a  hundred 


462  Wonders  of  a  Great  City\ 

men.  Accomplices  are  always  on  hand,  teams  pro- 
vided, and,  in  the  confusion,  generally  the  party 
escapes.  Some  of  the  banks  hire  a  carriage,  and  em- 
ploy a  police  officer  to  attend  their  messengers  to  the 
Clearing  House  and  back.  Some  of  the  heavy  bank- 
ing houses  employ  special  policemen  to  attend  their 
messengers  when  they  deliver  money.  In  many  cases 
the  messengers  are  in  complicity  with  rogues.  A 
bank  clerk  was  robbed  a  short  time  since  of  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  at  noonday.  The  police  investigated  the 
matter,  and  developed  the  following  facts  :  The  house 
robbed  was  one  of  the  largest  stock  dealing  houses  in 
the  street.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  collect  gold  cer- 
tificates of  twenty  thousand.  The  messenger,  on  his 
way  to  the  bank,  met  another  messenger,  and  they 
went  into  a  saloon  and  took  to  drinking.  It  was 
proved  they  drank  five  times — nobody  knows  how 
many  more.  The  young  man  was  enticed  by  his  com- 
panion into  a  dark  cellar-way,  and  was  knocked  down, 
or  fell  stiff  and  senseless.  The  companion  seized  the 
band  of  certificates,  and  ran  to  the  bank  for  the 
money.  This  was  done  in  broad  daylight,  some  par- 
ties looking  on.  One  of  the  spectators,  who  knew  the 
messenger,  notified  the  firm.  One  of  the  partners  ran 
to  the  bank,  and  found  the  messenger  with  the  gold 
in  his  hand,  ready  for  operation.  In  one  of  the  banks, 
during  business  hours,  may  be  seen  an  old  negro,  cha- 
fing up  and  down  like  a  caged  lion.  For  twenty 
years  he  was  the  bank  messenger  —  paid  all  the  ex- 
changes, ran  his  rounds  alone,  and  through  him  the 
bank  never  lost  a  dollar.  As  stout,  energetic,  pugilis- 
tic men  are  needed  on  the  Stock  Exchange,  so  daring 


Financial  Irregularities.  463 


men  of  courage,  with  the  dash  of  a  prize-fighter  about 
them,  are  needed  as  messengers,  and  the  old  colored 
servant  is  laid  upon  the  shelf. 

IMMORALITIES  OF  THE  STREET. 

Few  men  escape  the  demoralization  of  Wall  Street. 
!  Men  have  gone  down  into  that  arena  with  large  for- 
tunes and  unblemished  repute,  and  come  up  penniless 
and  bankrupt  in  character.  The  head  of  one  of  our 
larofest  mercantile  houses,  one  of  the  most  trusted  of 
bank  presidents,  with  a  well  earned  reputation  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century  upon  him,  threw  the  whole  away 
in  a  few  months  in  that  vortex. 

Young  Gray  had  a  brilliant,  but  a  short  career.  He 
came  up  from  dark,  den-like  offices  in  Exchange  Place, 
to  magnificent  rooms  on  Broad  street.  He  furnished 
his  offices  in  grand  style.  His  very  audacity  gave  him 
success.  He  outshone  the  eminent  houses  that  have 
stood  the  shock  of  half  a  century.  He  secured  high- 
toned  recommendations,  and  his  dash  and  daring  facil- 
itated his  gigantic  frauds.  Strange  enough,  very  few 
ever  saw  him.  For  a  day  or  two  his  name  was  better 
known  than  Yanderbilt's.  Those  who  saw  him,  de- 
scribe him  as  a  young  man,  very  boyish  in  his  appear- 
ance, looking  rather  green, — thirty  years  of  age,  tall 
and  slim,  with  light  hair  and  mustaches.  He  laid  his 
plans  with  consummate  ability.  He  secured  govern- 
ment bonds,  and  forged  nothing  but  the  sums.  The 
signatures  and  the  paper  were  genuine.  Had  Gray 
offered  bonds  manufactured,  or  with  signatures  forged, 
he  would  have  been  detected  at  once.  But  his  plan 
was  to  take  genuine  bonds,  and  alter  the  amounts. 


464 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Bonds  of  one  thousand  were  altered  to  ten.  Bonds  of 
five  thousand  were  altered  to  fifty  thousand.  During 
business  hours  the  rush  in  the  street  is  immense ;  mil- 
lions pass  in  an  hour  and  nothing  is  thought  of  it.  In 
the  excitement  of  the  hour,  when  the  time  came.  Gray 
and  his  associates  threw  the  bonds  on  to  the  market,  and 
obtained  money  everywhere.  Firms  loaned  ten  thou- 
sand on  securities  worth  one,  and  fifty  thousand  on 
securities  worth  five.  The  sum  thus  obtained  is  sup- 
posed to  have  ranged  from  two  hundred  thousand  to 
half  a  million.  One  morning  the  iron  shutters  of  44 
Broad  street  were  down,  and  the  sheriff  in  possession. 

Few  instances  have  brought  with  them  a  sadder 
moral  than  that  connected  with  young  Ketchum.  A 
very  young  man,  he  was  partner  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  houses  in  the  city.  For  two  genera- 
tions the  firm  had  been  without  a  stain  in  the  mercan- 
tile community.  Active,  energetic,  capable,  and  ap- 
parently honest,  the  young  man  soon  obtained  the  con- 
trol of  the  great  business  of  his  house.  No  one  can 
tell  what  he  did  with  the  vast  sums  of  money  he  ob- 
tained. The  avenues  of  expenditure  are  very  wide 
and  very  numerous  in  New  York.  Gaming,  drinking, 
fast  company,  extravagance  in  horses,  dress,  jewelry, 
and  establishments,  will  make  way  with  a  great  deal 
of  money  in  a  short  time.  The  transactions  in  gold 
when  Ketchum's  forgeries  came  to  light,  facilitated  the 
frauds  he  committed.  Each  banker  then  kept  a  gold 
check  book,  drew  his  gold  certificates  himself,  and  had 
them  certified  at  the  Gold  Bank.  These  certified  checks 
passed  as  gold  everywhere,  from  hand  to  hand,  while 
the  gold,  untouched,  remained  in  the  vaults,  Ketchum 


Financial  Irregularities. 


465 


drew  an  untold  number  of  checks,  forged  the  certifi- 
cation, and  scattered  them  in  every  direction.  The 
success  of  his  movement  led  to  an  entire  change  in 
the  system,  and  gold  checks  are  now  issued  at  the 
Treasury  Department,  and  certified  there. 

The  detection  of  the  Ketchum  forgeries  was  inevita- 
ble. The  road  may  be  a  long  one,  but  the  turn  surely 
comes.  A  wealthy  German  loaned  Ketchum  &  Sons 
eighty  thousand  dollars  on  one  of  the  forged  checks. 
The  bad  spelling  of  the  name  of  the  house  satisfied 
the  broker  that  something  was  wrong.  He  called  in 
his  loan,  and  said  nothing.  Meeting  a  friend  in  the 
street  the  next  day,  he  said,  "you  loaned  the  Ketch- 
ums  seventy  thousand  yesterday,  call  in  your  loan 
and  ask  no  questions."  Presenting  his  securities  for 
money,  Ketchum  was  refused  by  one  or  two  large 
houses.  He  was  satisfied  that  his  secret  was  out,  and 
he  resolved  to  flee.  The  excitement  was  terrific  when 
the  forgeries  were  known.  For  the  house  there  was 
very  little  sympathy.  It  was  known  to  be  sharp  and 
hard,  though  successful.  The  pound  of  flesh  was  ex- 
acted, and  the  scales  and  knife  were  always  ready. 
Sympathy  with  debtors  was  not  a  part  of  its  code,  and 
failure  to  meet  liabilities  was  regarded  as  a  crime. 
When  the  house  went  down,  as  sharp,  hard  firms  are 
apt  to,  the  feeling  of  the  street  was  one  of  relief,  and 
not  of  sympathy.  "He  shall  have  judgment  without 
mercy,"  is  a  text  from  which  sermons  are  constantly 
preached  in  Wall  street. 

A  CASE  IN  POINT. 

In  one  of  the  small  streets  of  lower  New  York,  where 
men  who  are  "  hard  up  "  congregate,  where  those  who 


466 


Wonders  of  a  Grea  t  City. 


do  brokerage  in  a  small  way  have  a  business  location,  a 
name  can  be  read  on  a  small  tin  sign,  that  is  eminently 
suggestive.  The  man  who  has  desk-room  in  that 
locality  I  have  known  as  a  leading  merchant  in  New 
York.  His  house  was  extensive,  his  business  large. 
He  was  talked  of  as  the  rival  of  Stewart.  No  store  in 
New  York  was  more  celebrated.  He  was  sharp  at  a 
trade,  and  successful.  He  was  a  hard  creditor,  and  un- 
relenting. He  asked  no  favors,  and  granted  none.  It 
was  useless  for  a  debtor  to  appeal  to  him.  "  Settle, 
sir ! "  he  would  say,  in  a  sharp,  hard  manner,  "  settle, 
sir !  How  will  I  settle  ?  I  will  settle  for  a  hundred 
cents  on  the  dollar,  sir."  Nothing  could  induce  him  to 
take  his  iron  grasp  off  of  an  unfortunate  trader.  Over 
his  desk  was  a  sign,  on  which  was  painted  in  large 
letters,  "  No  Compromise."  He  answered  all  appeals 
by  pointing  to  the  ominous  words,  with  his  long,  bony 
fingers.  His  turn  came.  He  went  under  —  deep.  All 
New  York  was  glad. 

In  travelling,  I  passed  the  night  with  a  wealthy  mer 
chant.  His  name  on  'change  was  a  tower  of  strength, 
lie  had  made  his  fortune,  and  was  proud  of  it.  He  said 
lie  could  retire  from  business  if  he  would,  have  a  for- 
tune for  himself  to  spend,  and  settle  one  on  his  wife 
and  children.  He  was  very  successful,  but  very  severe. 
He  was  accounted  one  of  the  shrewdest  merchants  in 
the  city.  But  he  had  no  tenderness  towards  debtors. 
In  the  day  of  his  prosperity  he  was  celebrated  for 
demanding  the  full  tale  of  brick,  and  the  full  pound  of 
flesh.  A  few  months  after  I  passed  the  night  with  him 
he  became  bankrupt.    His  wealth  fled  in  a  day.  He 


Financial  Irbegvlarities. 


467 


had  failed  to  settle  the  fortune  on  his  wife  and  children, 
and  they  were  penniless.    He  was  treated  harshly,  and 
was  summarily  ejected  from  the  institutions  over  which 
he  presided.   He  complained  bitterly  of  the  ingratitude 
of  men  who  almost  got  down  on  their  knees  to  ask 
favors  of  him  when  he  was  prosperous,  and  who  spurned 
and  reviled  him  when  he  fell.    If  in  the  day  of  his 
I   prosperity  he  had  been  kinder  and  less  exacting,  he 
I    might  have  found  friends  in  the  day  of  his  adversity. 
The  infatuation  of  young  Ketchum  was  not  the  least 
remarkable  thing  in  his  career.    He  disappeared  from 
the  street,  but  hung  around  New  York,  hiding  himself 

I in  cheap  boarding  houses  through  the  day,  and  roam- 
ing through  the  city  at  night.  It  was  proposed  to 
save  him  from  prison.  Disgraced  and  ruined,  it  was 
thought  that  a  felon's  brand  would  be*  kept  from  his 
brow.  Arrangements  w^ere  made  to  pay  the  forged 
checks,  and  keep  him  from  the  hands  of  the  authori- 
ties. Wall  street  would  rather  have  money  than  the 
body  of  the  criminal.  It  is  the  style  of  the  street  to 
take  the  cash,  and  let  the  culprit  run.  It  was  agreed 
that  the  parties  who  had  been  victimized,  when  they 
got  their  money,  should  not  appear  against  the  forger. 
Ketchum  could  easily  have  escaped.  Gray  was  caught, 
and  a  check  for  four  hundred  dollars  procured  his  lib- 
j  erty.  Ask  a  party  in  Wall  street  why  a  reward  of  five 
thousand  dollars  is  not  offered  for  a  defaulter,  and  the 
answer  will  be,  "  What's  the  use ;  the  man  will  give  a 
thousand  more  to  go  clear."  Ketchum  seemed  to  de- 
liver himself  up.  Forged  gold  certificates  were  found 
on  his  person.    Nothing  remained  but  to  lock  him  up 


468  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


in  the  Tombs.  He  was  put  in  a  cell  occupied  a  day  or 
two  before  by  a  murderer.  A  young  man,  almost  at 
the  head  of  the  financial  world,  with  an  elegant  home, 
moving  in  the  upper  ranks  of  social  life,  with  all  the 
cash  at  command  that  he  could  spend,  with  a  brilliant 
future  before  him,  an  opportunity,  such  as  not  one  in 
a  thousand  enjoys,  of  placing  his  name  among  the 
most  eminent  financial  men  in  the  world,  he  yielded 
to  the  allurements  and  temptations  of  the  street,  threw 
all  that  was  valuable  in  life  away,  and  accepted  a 
felon's  name  and  doom. 

THE  GREAT  PERIL. 

No  barriers  seemed  to  be  strong  enough  to  protect 
those  who  throw  themselves  on  the  excitement  of  stock 
speculation.  Like  the  cup  of  abominations  in  the 
Apocalypse,  it  seems  to  drunken  and  madden  all  who 
touch  it.  A  young  man  of  very  brilliant  abilities  had 
an  important  financial  position  in  a  prominent  house. 
His  salary  was  liberal,  his  social  position  high,  and  his 
style  of  living  genteel.  He  was  a  racy  writer,  and  a 
popular  correspondent.  He  took  a  special  interest  in 
Sunday  schools,  and  in  religious  and  reformatory  move- 
ments. He  was  especially  prominent  in  the  christian 
associations  of  the  land.  While  at  a  national  meeting 
of  associations,  in  which  he  bore  a  very  conspicuous 
part,  even  while  he  was  speaking  on  a  subject  involv- 
ing soundness  of  doctrine,  telegraph  wires  were  quiv- 
ering in  every  direction  with  the  intelligence  of  defal- 
cations with  which  he  was  charged.  It  was  the  old 
story  of  dishonesty  of  long  standing,  with  frauds  run- 
ning over  a.  series  of  years,  carefully  covered  up,  and 


Financial  Irregularities.  469 

ingeniously  hidden;  vouchers  forged,  and  an  appa- 
rently fair  page,  full  of  wrongs.  Early,  a  little  stock 
venture  was  indulged  in ;  to  save  that,  more  money  was 
needed.  A  loss  in  one  direction  was  to  be  repaired 
by  a  little  speculation  in  another.  Money  borrowed 
for  a  day  or  two,  and  then  the  men  set  out  on  a  tramp 
in  the  beaten  path  to  ruin,  where  so  many  specula- 
tors go. 

HOW  THE  MONEY  GOES. 

The  most  astounding  thing  about  many  of  these  de- 
falcations is,  that  parties  involved  in  crime  secure  no 
personal  benefit  to  themselves.  It  was  not  believed 
that  Ketchum  had  the  benefit  of  the  million  or  more 
of  money  that  he  got  by  forgery.  Sanford,  who  in 
an  hour  destroyed  the  repute  earned  by  thirty  years 
of  honest,  service,  when  he  ran  away,  though  his  defal- 
cations were  heavy,  left  his  family  penniless,  and  car- 
ried nothing  with  him.  To  obtain  a  high  position  in 
a  bank,  or  financial  company,  the  position  of  paying 
teller  or  cashier,  or  get  a  prominent  office,  is  a  great 
thing  in  New  York.  The  pay  is  large,  the  position 
permanent.  Capitalists  who  put  money  in  these  insti- 
tutions, do  it  often  to  make  a  place  for  their  children 
v>r  relations.  Vacancies  rarely  occur,  few  die,  and 
none  resign.  Each  director  and  officer,  and  each  polit- 
ical organization,  has  a  list  of  candidates  for  vacan- 
cies that  may  occur.  If  a  man  holds  a  responsible 
position  under  the  government,  he  must  have  bonds- 
men; the  same  is  true  of  cashiers,  treasurers,  and 
presidents.  Men  who  justify  in  sums  of  quarter  of  a 
million  or  less,  must  secure  well  known  bondsmen. 
Such  men  are  not  plenty,  and  they  do  not  expose 


470 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


themselves  without  a  consideration.  They  get  accom- 
modatipns,  and  often  a  loan  of  money  and  bonds  held 
by  these  custodians  for  safe  keeping.  These  funds  are 
thrown  on  the  street  for  speculation.  Not  long  since, 
a  young  man  who  was  considered  the  very  soul  of 
honor,  who  was  never  known  to  equivocate,  even, 
whose  character  from  his  boyhood  was  that  of  honest 
simplicity,  whose  great  ambition  it  was  to  support  his 
mother,  who  was  a  widow,  was  found  to  be  a  defaulter 
to  a  heavy  amount.  His  style  of  living  was  such,  and 
his  well  known  habits,  that  it  was  known  that  he  could 
not  have  squandered  the  money  on  himself  He  was 
too  timid  to  speculate,  and  the  marvel  was  what  had 
been  done  with  the  funds.  His  bondsman  had  used 
them  for  his  own  purposes.  First,  the  young  man  cer- 
tified a  check  when  there  was  no  money  in  the  bank, 
on  the  promise  of  its  being  made  good  the  next  day. 
The  bondsman  made  a  tool  of  the  young  officer,  first 
by  threatening  to  withdraw  as  bondsman,  and  then, 
having  led  him  on,  by  threatening  an  exposure.  The 
books  were  altered,  and  the  young  man  was  driven 
almost  to  madness  by  his  position.  Of  the  heavy  sum 
lost  by  the  bank,  not  a  dollar  went  into  his  own  pocket. 
He  is  an  illustration  of  thousands  who  are  the  dupes 
of  designing  men.  Some  moneyed  institutions  are 
exclusively  managed  by  a  clique  in  Wall  street.  If 
they  wish  to  produce  a  panic,  they  take  the  funds  of 
the  bank,  and  accomplish  the  purpose.  Bank  stock 
in  huge  blocks,  is  bought,  sold,  and  moved  about  to 
accomplish  the  schemes  and  combinations  of  stock 
speculators.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing,  for  men  on 
the  street,  to  demand  and  use  the  funds  of  public  in- 


Financial  Irregularities,  471 

stitutions.  More  than  a  million  of  public  money  has 
been  known  to  be  moved  into  Wall  street  for  a  day's 
speculation. 

HUMAN  WRECKS. 

The  wreck  of  public  men,  who  att(  mpt  speculation, 
is  sad  to  look  upon.  A  short  time  since,  a  gentle- 
man was  on  trial  before  the  United  States  Court  for 
a  conspiracy  to  defraud  the  government.  Some  of  the 
principal  witnesses  were  men  who  have  stood  very 
high  in  the  community,  worn  judicial  honors,  and  been 
ranked  as  the  most  eminent  of  citizens.  Some  of  these 
witnesses  would  have  been  included  in  the  indictment, 
but  the  government  kept  them  as  witnesses.  These 
men,  themselves  criminals,  showed  under  oath,  how 
the  public  funds  were  used,  how  fortunes  were 
swamped  in  speculation,  and  how  the  greed  of  gain 
allures  honorable  men  from  the  right  path.  A  legal 
gentleman  was  offered  a  judicial  nomination  in  a  case 
where  a  nomination  would  have  been  equivalent  to  an 
election.  The  conditions  connected  with  the  nomina- 
tion were  such,  that  as  a  man  of  honor  he  felt  bound 
to  decline.  Almost  daily,  on  Wall  street,  I  meet  a 
man,  not  forty ;  his  look  is  downcast,  dress  seedy,  and 
his  desire  seems  to  be  to  shun  every  one.  I  knew  him 
a  short  time  since  as  a  lawyer  in  Wall  street,  the  head 
of  a  happy  home,  a  Sunday  school  teacher,  and  an  hon- 
ored man.  He  took  to  the  ways  of  the  street,  and 
has  just  returned  from  the  State's  prison.  A  Sunday 
School  Superintendent,  and  a  very  devoted  one,  too, 
a  trustee  of  a  college,  and  an  influential  man,  left  his 
office,  and  the  quiet  walks  of  social  and  domestic  life, 


472  Wonders  of  a  Great  City.  | 

for  the  glitter  and  profit  of  a  public  position.    Every-  ^ 
body  congratulated  him  on  his  good  fortune.     His  ' 
friends  gave  him  a  dinner  in  honor  of  his  elevation. 
He  remained  in  office  but  a  short  time.    During  that 
short  period,  he  left  his  school,  v/as  removed  from 
church,  lost  his  own  fortune,  involved  his  friends,  and 
was  charged  with  using  money  that  belonged  to  the  ■ 
government.    The  pressure  for  money,  inside  and  out, 
was  too  great,  and  the  temptation  in  which  he  was  j 
placed  too  strong  for  him,  and  he  has  passed  out  of 
sight. 

Quite  a  young  man  in  New  York  made  his  fortune 
in  some  lucky  speculations.  He  was  admitted  to  be 
very  smart,  and  was  said  to  be  a  person  of  a  great 
deal  of  manliness  and  integrity.  One  of  the  methods 
of  the  street  to  raise  money  is  to  get  up  bogus  stock 
companies,  get  a  few  names  well  known  on  the  Board, 
and  these  are  paid,  hire  money  to  pay  a  dividend, 
throw  the  stock  on  the  market,  and  during  the  ex- 
citement sell  out,  and  enjoy  the  ill-gotten  gain.  The 
names  of  the  Directors  are  used  to  decoy  victims. 
The  rousing  dividend  excites  the  cupidity  of  men  in 
haste  to  be  rich.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  money  on 
the  street  waiting  to  be  invested.  Stock  paying  ten 
or  twenty  per  cent,  is  very  alluring.  Money  is  taken 
out  of  the  Savings  Bank,  drawn  out  of  Trust  Compa- 
nies, removed  from  where  it  lies  safely,  drawing  a 
reasonable  interest  or  paying  a  fair  dividend,  and  put 
in  the  new  company  where  dividends  are  so  large.  In 
a  few  weeks  or  months  the  concern  is  blown  to  atoms, 
and  mourners  go  about  the  streets.  The  victims  are 
usually  those  least  able  to  bear  the  loss.  One  day,  a 
46  31* 


Financial  Irregularities. 


473 


company  of  persons  came  into  the  counting  room  of 
the  young  man  referred  to  above,  and  offered  him  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  if  he  would  allow 
his  name  to  be  used  as  President  of  a  new  company 
about  to  be  started.  The  conspirators  knew  that  with 
his  name  they  could  sell  half  a  million  of  stock.  As 
coolly  as  if  they  were  naming  the  price  of  a  barrel  of 
oil,  he  said,  "Gentlemen,  my  name  is  not  worth  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  but  if  it  is,  I  can't 
afford  to  throw  it  away  on  a  bogus  stock  company." 

A  man  came  to  the  surface  not  long  since  as  a  poli- 
tician, and  was  elected  to  the  legislature.  For  a  bribe 
of  twelve  hundred  dollars  he  abandoned  his  party,  and 
was  elected  to  an  honorable  position.  Political  influ- 
ence obtained  for  him  a  lucrative  berth  in  the  city, 
and  he  took  his  place  among  the  financial  men.  He 
became  involved  in  stupendous  frauds ;  his  new  style 
of  life  opened  to  him  extravagancies  and  luxuries  to 
which  he  was  before  a  stranger.  His  day  dream  was 
a  short  one.  In  a  few  months  he  was  an  inmate  of  the 
penitentiary. 

Quite  a  young  man  appeared  on  the  street  as  the 
representative  of  one  of  the  heaviest  New  England 
houses.  He  boarded  at  a  magnificent  hotel,  and 
prided  "himself  on  having  the  largest  cash  balance  in 
the  bank  of  any  of  his  associates.  The  head  of  the 
house  which  he  represented  in  New  York,  died  very 
suddenly,  and  it  was  found  that  the  house  itself,  sup- 
posed to  be  one  of  the  richest  in  New  England,  was 
bankrupt — ruined  through  the  agency,  recklessness, 
and  dissipation* of  the  young  representative  in  New 
York.    That  a  house  so  old  and  honored,  holding  in 


4:7 i  Wonders  of  a  Great  City.  | 

trust  the  funds  of  widows  and  orphans,  should  allow 
itself  to  be  represented  by  a  dissolute  young  man, 
with  whom  no  prudent  person  who  knew  him  would  | 
trust  a  thousand  dollars,,  is  marvelous.     The  young  j 
man  was  notorious  in  New  York  for  his  dissipation, 
habits  of  gaming  and  drinking,  loose  company,  and  i 
rash  and  daring  speculations.    He  is  a  type  of  a  large  ' 
class  on  the  street.  . 

A  gentleman  residing  in  the  suburbs  had  but  little 
confidence  in  banks.  He  kept  his  securities  locked 
in  his  safe  at  home.  His  son-in-law,  doing  business  ii. 
New  York,  came  up  once  a  week  to  spend  Sunday.  | 
During  one  of  these  visits  the  keys  of  the  safe  myste- 
riously disappeared.  The  old  merchant  was  advised 
by  his  son-in-law  to  send  the  safe  to  New  York  to  be 
opened,  and  he  volunteered  to  take  charge  of  the  op- 
eration. The  safe  came  back  with  a  nicely  fitted  key. 
Three  months  afterwards  it  was  discovered  that  funds 
to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  had 
been  abstracted.  Nothing  could  be  proved  against 
the  son  in-law,  and  to  prevent  family  disgrace,  the 
thing  blew  over.  A  few  days  ago,  an  extensive  com- 
mission dealer  ran  away,  carrying  with  him,  not  only 
the  funds  of  the  house,  but  a  good  deal  of  money  be- 
longing to  other  people.  He  proved  to  be  the  same 
shrewd  gentleman  who  furnished  the  key  to  his  rela- 
tive's safe. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


THE  SAWDUST  GAME. 


HOW  PERSONS  FROM  THE  RURAL  DISTRICTS  WITH  A  FEW  DOLLARS  AND 
AN  ALL  CONSUMING  DESIRE  TO  BECOME  SPEEDILY  RICH  ARE  SHORN — 
COUNTERFEIT  MONEY  IN  NAME  ONLY  —  AN  INTERVIEW  WITH  THE 
KING  OF  BOGUS-CURRENCY  SWINDLERS. 


T  has  been  generally  supposed  that  this  ancient 


I  mode  of  fleecing  the  lambs  had  almost  died  out, 
in  consequence  of  the  attention  it  had  attracted  from 
the  Postoffice  and  other  detectives,  until  the  public 
were  startled  from  this  delusive  dream  by  the  an- 
nouncement that  the  "King  Pin"  of  the  fraud  had 
been  shot  dead  in  the  midst  of  one  of  his  daring 
operations,  by  a  Texan,  who  had  evidently  come  to 
New  York  to  get  satisfaction  for  the  hundreds  of 
dupes  who  had  been  the  victims  of  wholesale  SAvindles 
on  the  part  of  these  nefarious  scamps.  The  mode 
of  proceeding  has  been  so  often  detailed  that  it 
scarcely  seems  necessary  again  to  repeat  the  "thrice 
told  tale;"  but  the  recent  bloody  tragedy  in  which 
the  principal  culprit  was  shot  down  in  his  tracks, 
shows  that  the  game  itself  is  still  very  much  alive, 
and  that  great  sums  of  money  are  almost  daily  drawn 
from  the  hard-earned  wages  of  people  who  should 
know  better  than  to  be  in  any  way  accessory  to  the 


476 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


swindles ;  for  it  hardly  need  be  said  that  the  buyers 
of  counterfeit  greenbacks  are  not  a  whit  less  culpable 
than  the  rascals  who  put  up  such  jobs.  The  opera- 
tors in  the  sawdust  game  contrive  to  get  the  address 
of  persons  in  distant  parts  of  the  Union,  and  send 
them  a  circular  in  which  they  are  confidentially  in- 
formed that  the  advertiser  has  come  into  possession 
of  a  large  lot  of  counterfeit  notes,  that  are  the  per- 
fection of  fraudulent  manufacture.  In  size  and  color 
of  paper,  skillf  ulness  of  engravings,  in  short  in  every 
particular  will  they  pass  through  the  manipulation 
of  experts  without  being  known  from  the  genuine. 
They  even  offer  to  send  a  $1  or  $2  bill  for  examina- 
tion and  close  scrutiny. 

Occasionally,  where  they  are  able  to  find  out  that 
their  correspondent  is  a  man  of  means  and  some 
position,  they  will  fill  the  first  small  order  with  real 
money.  Where  this  is  done  the  avaricious  victim 
swallows  the  whole  decoy,  hook,  sinker  and  all.  He 
remits  the  monfey,  and  after  some  delay  he  receives  a 
carefully  enclosed  box,  shrewdly  enveloped  and  osten- 
tatiously covered  with  numerous  seals.  Upon  care- 
fully removing  the  wrappings,  his  astonished  eyes 
either  fall  upon  a  lot  of  carefully  packed  worthless 
paper  or  a  quantity  of  sawdust,  which  appears  about 
the  size  and  weight  that  the  promised  sum  in  bills 
might  make.  The  victim  is  without  a  remedy.  He 
has  only  his  own  word  to  prove  that  he  ever  sent  any 
money  to  buy  the  stuff ;  or  if  he  had  other  witnesses, 
they  would  also  prove  that  he  was  an  accessory  before 
the  fraud,  and  only  cried  out  when  he  was  himself 
hurt  by  the  rebound  of  the  ball  that  he  had  dis- 


The  Sawdust  Game.  4:77 


charged.  If  lie  flings  good  money  after  bad  by 
coming  to  tlie  city  to  investigate ;  if  lie  calls  at  the 
place  to  which  his  remittance  was  directed,  he  is 
probably  informed  that  the  person  in  the  room  would 
be  very  glad  to  find  the  swindler  himself,  as  he  has 
not  only  cheated  the  countryman,  but  has  cleared  out 
without  paying  his  rent,  and  that  the  landlord  fears 
he  is  a  bad  fellow,  as  lots  of  people  call  every  horn- 
to  report  some  of  his  frauds,  and  he  would  advise 
the  visitor  to  report  at  Police  Headquarters,  as  the 
authorities  would  be  glad  to  get  some  witnesses  to 
the  case.  But  he  had  better  provide  himself  with 
bail,  or  they  might  lock  him  up  in  the  House  of 
Detention  until  the  criminal  could  be  found  and  the 
trial  take  place.  The  victim  sadly  returns  home 
without  giving  any  additional  notoriety  to  the  fact 
that  he  has  been  dabbling  in  forbid  den  fruit.  Perhaps, 
as  he  chews  the  cud  of  bitter  fancies,  he  recalls  the 
text,  "He  that  maketh  haste  to  be  rich  shall  not  be 
innocent. " 

KIKG  OF  THE  SAWDUST  SWIITDLEES. 

A  dapper  little  man  stood  on  the  corner  of  Grand 
street  and  the  Bowery  a  few  evenings  ago.  He  wore 
an  immaculate  white  shirt  front,  from  which  sparkled 
a  six-carat  brilliant  of  the  purest  water.  A  heavy 
gold  watch  chain  hung  from  his  waistcoat,  on  which 
was  suspended  a  large  gold  horseshoe  with  seven 
diamonds  representing  nail-heads.  A  large  ring  en- 
circled the  little  finger  of  his  left  hand,  with  an  eight- 
carat  stone  imbedded  in  it,  which  shot  out  little 
brilliant  prismatic  sparks  with  a  snap  at  every  move 


478  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  his  hand.  This  little  man  was  none  other  than 
Barney  Maguire,  the  king  of  the  sawdust  swindlers. 
He  appeared  to  be  more  communicative  than  usual, 
and  did  not  hesitate  to  unbosom  himself  to  a  friend. 

"  Ten  years  ago, "  he  said,  "  I  was  working  at  my 
trade  as  a  journeyman  bricklayer,  earning  a  salary  of 
$3  a  day.  I  don't  just  now  recall  what  first  led  me 
into  the  ^boodle'  business,  but  I  started,  as  you  know. 
Other  people  knew  it,  too,  and  much  to  their  sorrow. " 

The  little  confidence  man  gave  a  quiet  chuckle,  and 
continued:  "And  I  have  been  so  successful  at  the 
sawdust  game  that  $100,000  in  cold  cash  would  not 
touch  me  to-day.  The  game  has  grown  so  thread- 
bare and  has  been  exposed  so  often,  however,  that  I 
am  kept  continually  studying  up  some  new  scheme 
to  rope  in  the  guys.  It  is  not  anything  like  it  used 
to  be,  I  can  tell  you.  Why,  I  can  recollect  five  years 
ago  when  I  thought  nothing  of  raking  in  $5,000  a 
week,  and  on  several  occasions  I  took  in  $15,000  in 
one  week.  Those  were  good  times.  Nowadays  if  I 
make  $500  or  $1,000  I  think  I  am  playing  in  good 
luck.  My  expenses  are  frightfully  heavy,  too.  I've 
always  got  fifteen  or  twenty  steerers  that  must  be 
paid  $15  or  $20  a  man,  according  to  the  boodle  that 
he  drops.  Then  there  is  my  turner,  who  has  charge 
of  the  layout.  He  must  be  paid  well,  for  a  good 
turner  is  not  picked  up  every  day,  and  then  besides 
I  have  agents  all  over  the  country  looking  up  good 
subjects  to  work  on.  When  a  man  is  found  who  it  is 
suspected  will  take  the  bait  one  of  my  circulars  is 
sent  him.  There's  nothing  in  it  that  could  criminate 
me  even  if  it  got  into  the  wrong  hands.    I  don't  tell 


The  Sawdust  Game, 


479 


him  that  I  am  selling  counterfeit  money,  but  simply 
allude  to  it  as  manufactured  ^  green  stuif'  in  the 
denominations  of  I's,  2's,  5's,  lO's  and  20's.  He 
generally  knows  what  it  means.  If  he  writes  back 
for  a  sample  and  I  think  he  means  business  I  cut,  for 
instance,  a  brand-new  good  $5  bill  in  two  and  send 
one-half  to  him.  This  generally  brings  him.  It  has 
been  previously  understood  between  us  that  upon  his 
arrival  in  this  city  he  is  to  telegraph  me  at  what 
hotel  he  is  stopping  and  under  what  name.  Then  one 
of  my  steerers  calls  at  the  hotel  and  steers  him  to  the 
layout,  which  is  situated  either  up-stairs  or  down  in 
a  basement  with  a  dark  passageway.  You  will  un- 
derstand the  reason  for  this  presently. 

"When  he  gets  into  the  layout  it's  a  very  rare 
thing  that  he  leaves  it  with  more  than  just  enough 
money  to  take  him  out  of  town.  When  he  enters 
the  layout,  which  has  been  fixed  for  his  reception, 
crisp  new  greenbacks  greet  his  eyes  on  all  sides.  The 
shelves  are  apparently  full  of  them,  and  he  imagines 
that  barrels  are  filled  with  the  notes.  The  packages 
on  the  shelves,  however,  simply  have  a  bank  note  on 
the  top  and  bottom.  The  rest  is  paper  cut  the  right 
size.  The  barrels  have  false  tops.  The  greenbacks 
have  just  been  brought  from  the  sub-treasury  on  Wall 
street  in  exchange  for  old  bills.  He  first  advances  to 
the  counter,  takes  up  a  bill,  and  in  nine  cases  out  of 
ten  takes  one  from  his  pocket  and  compares  the  two. 
He  could  not  be  other  than  satisfied.  Then  he  signi- 
fies how  much  he  wants.  He  is  told  he  can  have 
$2,000  for  $500.  The  money  is  counted  out  by  the 
turner  and  either  done  up  in  a  package  or  placed  in 
a  valise.    If  the  guy  has  on  a  good  stone  or  a  watch 


480 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


and  chain  some  fabulous  sum  is  oifered  for  it  and 
placed  in  with  the  other  money.  When  the  package 
has  been  securely  sealed  something  must  be  done  to 
distract  his  attention  fi*om  it.  It  requires  only  a  sec- 
ond. As  a  rule,  one  of  the  men  from  behind  him 
makes  some  startling  remark  and  he  turns  his  head. 
The  second  his  head  goes  around  a  package  is  substi- 
tuted in  place  of  the  one  the  money  is  in.  He  is 
allowed  to  carry  his  own  package  in  this  case.  But 
he  is  told  that  in  order  to  insure  us  against  any 
treachery  on  his  part  he  must  take  the  package  to 
the  express  office  and  send  it  to  his  home.  He  then 
must  allow  one  of  my  men  to  accompany  him  to  the 
train  and  see  the  train  start  off  with  him  in  it. 

"Then  we  are  safe.  When  he  arrives  home  he  calls 
for  his  package,  and  very  likely  locks  himself  in  his 
room  and  stuffs  the  keyhole  full  of  paper  before  he 
opens  it.  When  he  does  open  it  he  finds  a  package 
of  sawdust  or  paper,  with  a  generally  accompanying 
note  which  informs  him  that  the  package  has  been 
substituted  on  the  road.  I've  had  the  same  man  come 
back  three  times  for  more,  thinking  that  it  Avas  stolen 
on  the  road.  If  he  does  find  out  that  we  have  duped 
him  he  can't  squeal,  for  he  is  as  deep  in  the  mire  as 
we  are.  If  a  guy's  attention  in  the  substituting  act 
cannot  be  withdrawn  from  the  package  one  of  my 
men  takes  it,  and  in  company  with  the  flat  starts  for 
the  express  office.  Going  through  the  dark  passage- 
way or  down  stairs  they  meet  a  man.  In  passing  each 
other  the  packages  are  exchanged.  It's  a  regular 
sleight-of-hand  work.  But  say,  I'm  talking  too  long. " 

The  king  of  sawdust  swindlers  looked  at  his  hand- 
some gold  watch  and  walked  up  the  Bowery, 


CHAPTER  XXXm. 


CONFIDENCE  OPERATORS. 

DEVICES  WHICH  LINE  THE  POCKETS  OP  THE  CONFIDING — SOME  OF  THE 
NUMBER  EXPOSED — PLIN  WHITE's  REMARKABLE  CAREER — PROPERTY 
OF  ORPHANS  AND  WIDOWS — BOGUS  AUCTIONS — SHAM  JEWELS  AND 
SUBSCRIPTION  LISTS — PETTY  SWINDLES — BUNDLE  AND  POCKET-BOOK 
GAMES— SHAM  INSPECTORS— DUBIOUS  BOOKS— HORSE  SHARKS. 

THE  ever-dangerous  and  "fetching"  fishery  of  the 
confidence  game  is  so  dependent  on  the  qualities 
distinguishing  our  countrymen  that  the  French  police 
term  it  "the  American  steal."  Complimentary!  It  is  as 
old  as  the  ills  of  humanity..  But  every  week  it  has 
its  tens  of  victims  in  all  large  cities.  It  requires 
two  operators  who  play  into  one  another's  hands, 
and  who  would  be  almost  equally  master  of  several 
tongues,  quick  as  a  flash  to  take  a  hint  from  one  an- 
other, and  able  to  read  a  man's  ideas  by  the  play  of 
his  features  unerringly  and  instantly. 

Confidence  man  A.  with  his  mate  within  sight, 
prowls  the  street  or  public  resort  till  they  observe  a 
likely  quarry.  They  have  an  infallible  eye  in  seeing 
real  value  under  bounce,  shoddy  and  Alaska  dia- 
monds. No  gulling  them  with  a  Mexican  dollar  at 
the  end  of  a  watch-chain!  no  "stufi&ng"  them  that  the 
bulge  over  the  heart  is  made  with  a  wallet  of  bank- 
bills  when  it  is  a  prayer-book!    On  some  natural  ex- 


482 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


cuses  the  foremost  strikes  up  an  acquaintance. 
Ten  to  one,  he  has  been  in  your  town,  perhaps  for  a 
prolonged  stay  (in  your  jail).  Anyhow,  he  will  be 
talking  of  your  Uncle  Jake,  that  ploughed  the  stones 
out  of  the  Shoomack  forty  acres  in  five  minutes,  as 
if  they  had  scooped  up  mush  from  the  same  bowl, 
when  rising  three.    You  will  be  won  over,  safe. 

The  next  point  that  is  played  is  for  number  two 
to  flounder  against  you.  A.  does  not  know  B.,  not  a 
morsel.  B.  is  on  the  expansive.  He  has  come  to 
town  to  receive  a  large  sum  of  money.  He  shows  a 
wallet  full  of  "flash"  bills;  his  jewelry  is  spick  and 
span  new  and  looks  aldermanic.  He  is  so  overjoyed 
that  he  wants  the  continent  to  stand  up  and  liquor 
with  him;  the  tw^o  hemispheres  to  dive  into  his 
purse,  the  solar  system  to  live  with  him  for  a  week 
Avhen  it  revolves  his  side  of  the  river.  It  is  good  to 
meet  such  refreshing  exuberance  and  wholesale  liber- 
ality. 

When  he  settles  down  to  talking  of  giving  away 
a  thousand  dollars,  A.  sort  of  nudges  you,  winks, 
whispers  that  he  thinks  "we,  us  &  Co.  "ought  to 
profit  by  this  blamed  old  crankey's  whims  before  he 
falls  into  ungentlemanly  hands  and  gets  plucked. 
Does  the  stranger  mean  half  w^hat  he  says? 

B.  means  the  whole!  All  he  is  foraging  round  for 
is  a  proper,  fit  individual  or  two  whose  honesty  w411 
prevent  him  putting  the  gift  to  a  bad  purpose.  As 
he  has  no  time  to  test  the  credentials  you  and  A.  are 
ready  to  parade  he  will  substitute  a  single  test. 

"There  is  nothing  like  confidence  between  man  and 
man!"    That  is  the  shibboleth,  and  these  fellows  do 


Confidence  Operators,  483 


not  hesitate  to  trumpet  it,  though  it  ought  to  de- 
nounce them.  You  are  all  three  in  a  drinking  place 
by  this  time.  The  keeper  may  not  know  these  gentry, 
but  he  more  than  half  guesses  what  is  hatching.  But 
he  will  not  give  you  a  hint — they  never  do,  his  like. 
It  is  a  good  joke,  and  then  the  gains  will  be  great  to 
the  rum-mill. 

A.  tells  you  what :  He  will  leave  some  money 
with  you  and  your  friend,  step  out  for  a  breather, 
and  if  you  are  both  there  on  his  return,  and  the  trust 
intact,  hang  it!  he  will  have  a  better  opinion  of  you. 
He  does  so.  More  drinks.  Then  B.  does  the  same. 
Drinks  succeed.  Then  you  step  out,  leaving  some 
greenbacks  and  jewelry  to  make  up  the  sum  the 
others  seem  to  have  sported.  And  on  your  return 
the  spondoolics  have  disappeared  with  the  pair.  The 
bartender  has  been  counting  the  flashes  of  his  pin. 
"He  hain't  seen  when  the  gentlemen  left ;  they  paid 
up  square;  that's  all  he  knows."  And  the  police 
will  say,  one  that  it  was  "Irish  Charley"  and  "The 
Lame  Fiddler;"  another  that  the  description  fits 
Jack,  alias  "Shuffleboard  Jemmy,"  and  his  pal,  and 
so  on.    Upshot,  your  shot  will  never  be  seen  again. 

THE  ]S"0T0EI0US  PLIN  WHITE. 

The  preceding  subjects  are,  however,  only  the 
chicken  hawks,  and  sparrow-buzzards  of  confidence 
gamesters.  Annexed  we  give  a  sketch  of  "i^Zm" 
White,  who  may  be  termed  the  bald-eagle  of  his  ne- 
farious craft.  When  he  made  a  swoop  it  was  gen- 
erally upon  the  big  piles  of  very  rich  men,  and  he 
rarely  failed  of  "fetching"  all  he  "  went  for." 


484 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


The  career  of  Plymouth  or  "Plin"  White,  whose 
death  at  the  age  of  sixty  has  just  occurred,  was  a 
remarkable  one,  and  deserves  to  rank  with  those  of 
the  most  accomplished  and  successful  rogues  of  this 
or  any  other  age.  What  is  most  strange  about  it  is 
that  White  possessed  abilities  so  considerable  that 
had  he  employed  them  in  any  legitimate  enterprise 
or  profession  he  must  have  attained  distinguished 
eminence.  It  is  clear  that  in  his  case  there  was  an 
uncontrollable  prepossession  for  evil ;  that  in  fact  he 
was  so  constituted  as  to  derive  more  pleasure  from 
the  perpetration  of  a  clever  swindle  than  honest  men  do 
from  the  performance  of  a  virtuous  action.  The  men- 
tal constitution  of  such  a  man  is  an  interesting  study. 
"Plin"  White  w^as  intellectually  well  equipped.  He 
must  have  possessed  all  qualities  save  moral  ones  in 
an  unusual  degree.  He  had  so  winning  an  address, 
dignified  and  attractive  an  appearance,  so  complete  a 
command  of  himself  and  so  masterly  a  power  of 
chicanery,  that  he  actually  deceived  those  who  had 
previously  been  his  victims,  and  who,  it  might  be 
supposed,  must  have  been  disillusionized  as  to  that 
particular  rascal  at  least. 

A  more  corrupt  scoundrel  never  masqueraded  under 
a  form  and  face  which  seemed  to  give  assurance  of 
absolute  integrity.  It  has  been  said  that  he  looked 
like  a  venerable  clergyman,  and  his  manners  were 
polished  and  fascinating.  The  extraordinary  force  of 
the  man,  however,  was  shown  in  the  magnitude  of  his 
robberies  and  the  virtual  impunity  Avith  which  he 
committed  them.  He  is  said  to  have  acquired  $1,500,- 
000  in  twenty  years  by  sheer  swindling,  and  in  one 


Confidence  Operators.  485 


instance  his  gains  amounted  to  $400,000.  Yet  though 
his  notoriety  was  world-wide,  he  was  able,  on  the  few 
occasions  when  he  found  himself  in  custody,  to  cajole, 
and  sometimes  even  to  rob,  the  very  officers  who  had 
him  in  charge.  In  a  most  amazing  case  of  this  kind 
was  that  in  which  he  not  only  persuaded  a  New 
York  sheriff  to  give  him  his  liberty,  but  lured  $20,- 
000  from  the  pockets  of  the  officer  he  had  thus  hood- 
winked. So  confident  was  he  of  his  personal  mag- 
netism that  he  did  not  hesitate  to  approach,  with 
fresh  deceptions,  men  who  had  already  been  fleeced 
by  him,  and  in  more  than  one  instance  his  confidence 
was  justified  by  the  event. 

No  doubt  he  had  made  a  close  study  of  the  law 
with  a  view  to  circumventing  it.  He  was  too  far- 
sighted  to  take  needless  risks,  and  his  judgment  as  to 
the  outcome  of  his  nefarious  plans  was  seldom  at 
fault.  Had  such  a  man,  so  variously  and  highly 
gifted,  been  on  the  side  of  right,  he  would  have 
proved  most  useful  to  his  generation.  But  there  was 
a  hopeless  twist  in  his  character.  He  evidently  had 
no  moral  sensibility,  no  conscience  whatever.  When 
he  had  driven  his  partner  to  suicide  by  his  scoundrel- 
ism  he  merely  slipped  away  to  Europe,  and  there  en- 
joyed himself  calmly  until  he  thought  the  affair  had 
been  forgotten,  when  he  returned  to  his  crooked  ad- 
ventures as  coolly  and  deliberately  as  ever.  He 
probably  never  had  a  moment  of  remorse.  He  ruined 
scores  of  people,  and  left  misery  and  suffering  behind 
him  wherever  he  went.  He  acted  toward  women  with 
the  same  absolute  indifference  to  any  moral  standard 
that  characterized  his  intercourse  with  men.  A  more 


486 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


thorougUy  dangerous  man,  in  fact,  never  infested 
society.  Beside  so  cold-blooded  and  accomplished  a 
villain  tlie  ordinary  criminal — even  the  worst  type 
of  the  frontier  desperado — appears  comparatively  in- 
nocent. It  is  fortunate  for  the  world  that  there  are 
not  many  men  of  the  "Plin"  White  stamp. 

THE  FUENITUKE  DODGE. 

The  various  forms  which  the  petty  swindles  of  the 
metropolis  assume  present  an  interesting  subject  for 
study.  There,  for  instance,  is  the  so-called  furniture 
swindle.  Not  long  ago  an  indignant  lady  appeared 
at  a  prominent  furniture  warehouse  and  demanded 
to  know  why  a  certain  bed-room  set,  which  she  had 
selected  and  paid  for  two  days  before,  had  not  been 
sent  to  her  house.  She  produced  a  receipt,  written 
on  blank  paper  and  signed  with  the  scrawling  initials 
salesmen  in  large  establishments  usually  affect.  The 
sum  receipted  for  was  only  about  two-thirds  of  what 
the  furniture  in  question  was  really  held  at.  She 
had  entered  the  establishment,  and  been  greeted  by 
a  polite  gentleman  just  inside  of  the  door.  The 
stranger  had  accompanied  her  around,  pointing  out 
desirable  bargains  and  naming  such  low  prices  that 
she  had  felt  sorry  that  she  had  not  money  enough  to 
buy  the  entire  store  out.  She  finally  pitched  on  one 
set  and  paid  for  it.  The  polite  stranger  scrawled  her 
a  receipt,  took  her  address  and  saw  her  to  a  car. 
After  waiting  for  her  purchase  to  be  sent  to  her  until 
she  got  tired,  she  set  out  to  make  inquiries  about  it. 

The  salesmen  of  the  establishment  were  passed  in 
review  before  her,  but  she  had  failed  to  identify  any 


Confidence  Operators. 


487 


of  them  as  her  particular  one.  It  then  became  evi- 
dent that  she  had  been  the  victim  of  a  clever  outside 
swindler,  and  very  little  inquiry  demonstrated  that 
she  was  not  alone  in  her  misfortune.  The  same 
ingenious  knave  had  made  his  appearance  at  at  least 
five  other  establishments,,  with  similar  results.  He 
must  have  been  conversant  with  the  business,  for  in 
all  cases  he  selected  warehouses  where  a  number  of 
salesmen  are  employed,  and  where  the  appearance  of 
a  stranger  among  them  would  not  arouse  suspicion, 
as  he  would  be  supposed  to  be  a  new  clerk. 

"It  is  really  an  old  trick  revived,"  said  one  of  the 
furniture  men,  "  and  years  ago  was  played  frequently 
and  with  great  success.  Before  the  war  furniture 
stores  and  cabinet  ware-rooms  used  to  be  left  open  to 
the  public,  and  people  came  in  and  went  unattended. 
If  they  wanted  to  buy  anything  they  had  to  call  for 
a  salesman  by  ringing  one  of  the  hand-bells  scattered 
about.  The  swindlers  found  it  easy  to  work  under 
those  circumstances,  and  they  went  at  it  with  such 
boldness  that  the  present  system  of  employing  many 
salesmen  and  keeping  them  constantly  on  the  watch 
had  to  be  introduced.  Now  the  game  can  never  be 
played  twice  in  the  same  place. " 

MOCK  AUCTIONS. 

Another  old  swindle  which  is  being  revived,  with 
much  of  the  ancient  success,  is  the  mock  auction. 
When  the  newspapers  and  the  law  combined  some 
years  ago  to  stamp  mock  auctions  out,  they  were  one 
of  the  most  lucrative  forms  which  the  swindlers  of 
the  city  assumed.    A  mock  auctioneer  was  a  sort  of 


I 

488  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

pirate  chief,  with  a  crew  devoted  to  him,  and  tl 
public  to  foray  on.  His  craft  generally  sailed  undc 
some  such  seductive  name  as  "The  Original  Orego 
Cheap  Jack,"  "Grandfather  Whitehead's  Cabinet 
and  the  like.  One  in  Chatham  Square  bore  the  aj 
propriate  title  of  "The  Golden  Fleece,"  the  publi 
supplying  the  lambs.  In  those  old  days  mock  au( 
tions  were  far  from  being  petty  swindles. 

But  at  present  they  are,  though  they  are  outgiw 
ing  that  condition  fast.  A  year  or  so  ago  one  wa 
opened  in  Chatham  street,  near  Worth.  It  was  i 
dingy  little  shop,  haunted  by  ill-looking  men,  clad  ii 
the  height  of  Five  Points'  elegance,  over  whom  £ 
one-eyed  Jew  presided  as  auctioneer.  The  windo'v^ 
presented  a  tempting  array  of  a  very  fair  order 
picked  up  at  pawnbrokers'  sales. 

A  flag  over  the  door  announced  that  a  "magnificent! 
.  bankrupt  stock  of  watches,  jcAvelry  and  silverware" 
was  to  be  disposed  of  by  peremptory  sale  to-day.  ^ 
To-day  means  every  day,  for  the  flag  flapped  there 
till  it  rotted  from  its  staff. 

The  business  done  at  this  place  was  at  times  quite 
lively.  When  one  of  the  scouts  announced  the  ap- 
proach of  an  eligible  victim,  in  the  person  of  some 
green  Jerseyman  or  clean  magnate  from  the  Sound, 
the  one-eyed  auctioneer  would  start  off  at  a  gallop, ' 
ripping  out  a  wild  shriek  to  arrest  the  attention  of 
the  victim  as  he  passed  the  store.  The  display  in  the 
window  and  the  announcement  on  the  flag  would  lure 
him  in,  and  he  was  either  a  very  fortunate  or  a  very 
wise  man  if  he  left  the  place  as  rich  as  he  entered  it. 
Really  good  Avatches  and  jewelry  would  be  put  up 


Confidence   Operators.  489 


for  sale,  bid  for,  disposed  of  at  reasonable  prices,  and 
deftly  exchanged  for  others  which  would  have  been 
dear  at  the  price  of  old  brass. 

Now  there  are  no  end  of  mock  auction  rooms  on 
the  east  and  w^est  sides ;  in  all  of  them  the  nefarious 
business  is  carried  on  in  the  same  lawless  style  that 
induced  their  suppression  ten  years  ago.  There  are 
the  same  suspicious-looking  bogus  bidders,  the  same 
genteel  loungers  who  raise  a  bid  now  and  then,  and 
the  same  voluble  auctioneer,  gorged  with  cheap  witti- 
cisms and  smutty  jokes,  which  he  discharges  as  the 
occasion  seems  propitious. 

The  business  has  not  yet  assumed  the  alarming 
proportions  it  once  attained  to,  but  it  is  growing,  and 
cannot  fail  soon  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  police, 
now  that  their  notice  is  directed  to  it. 

Other  forms  of  mock  auctions  are  those  of  pictures, 
pianos,  furniture  and  cigars.  Mock  auctions  of  pic- 
tm-es  are  always  held  in  stores  which  happen  to  be 
'  temporarily  vacant,  and  w^hich  are  rented  for  the 
brief  period  the  swindler  requires  for  his  work.  As 
soon  as  he  sells  his  stock  out  he  decamps,  to  avoid 
the  inevitable  meeting  wdth  some  duped  customer. 

In  no  case  is  a  picture  offered  for  sale  at  one  of 
these  auctions  worth  the  canvas,  or,  rather,  oilcloth 
i  which  it  is  painted  on,  for  the  majority  of  them  are 
'  smeared  on  the  cheapest  sort  of  carriage  covering. 
They  are  used  to  sell  the  frames,  which  are  manu. 
factured  in  factories  in  large  quantities,  gilded  with 
Dutch  metal,  by  contract,  and  sold  in  a  hurry,  as  a 
few  rainy  days  in  a  storeroom  turn  their  golden  glory 
1  to  verdigris.    Cappers  or  bogus  bidders  are  used  in 


490  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


this  as  in  every  form  of  mock  auction,  and  the  vilest 
daubs,  in  the  most  vrorthless  frames,  sometimes  bring 
as  much  as  $200  and  even  $300  by  judicious  and 
cunning  running  up. 

In  the  piano  and  furniture  auctions  good  dummy 
or  sample  articles  are  exhibited,  and  comparatively 
valueless  ones  of  similar  appearance  foisted  upon  the 
purchaser  in  their  place.  There  are  firms  here  who 
make  a  business  of  manufacturing  such  articles. 
Piano  auctions  are  usually  held  in  temporarily  unteu-  ; 
anted  warerooms,  which  have  been  used  by  reputable  1 
dealers  in  new  and  second-hand  pianos.  Furniture 
sales  are  conducted  in  houses  leased  for  the  purpose. 

Cigar  auctions  are  held  in  all  sorts  of  queer  corners  : 
of  the  city,  wherever  the  auctioneer  can  get  hold  of 
a  place  to  operate  in.    The  weeds  they  dispose  of  j 
w^ould  be  rejected  by  a  Chinese  vendor  with  a  corner  j 
cigar  stand  in  Baxter  street.    Many  of  them  are  ! 
actually  made  of  the  Manilla  paper  used  for  wrap- 
ping purposes  in  cheap  groceries.  The  paper  is  stained  i 
brown  and  run  through  a  machine,  which  imparts  to  j 
it  the  veining  of  real  tobacco  leaf,  and  the  filling  is 
of  chopped  stems  and  discarded  cuttings,  which  even 
the  lowest  tenement  house  cigarmakers  can  find  no  | 
use  for.  ] 

One  of  the  most  flagrant  of  the  minor  swindles  of  i 
the  metropolis  is  that  which  fishes  for  its  victims  j 
with  the  seductive  bait  of  a  "business  opportunity." 
The  extent  to  which  it  is  carried,  and  the  success  Avhich  ^ 
attends  it,  are  almost  incredible.  It  usually  employs  j 
two  people.  One  is  a  man  who  has  an  ofiice  in  a  | 
reputable  neighborhood,  and  the  other  a  plausible  \ 


Confidence  Operators, 


491 


"beat. "  The  first  f urnislies  the  capital  for  the  adver- 
tisements and  the  theatre  of  operations,  and  also 
endorses  the  respectability  of  his  associate.  This 
worthy  usually  has  a  patent  to  develop,  which  re- 
quires a  little  money  to  start;  a  dramatic  company 
to  put  on  the  road  for  an  out  of  town  tour,  or  some 
small  manufacturing  business  to  establish.  He  only 
requires  a  couple  of  hundred  dollars  for  his  purpose, ' 
and  his  dupe  is  to  be  the  treasurer  or  cashier  of  the 
concern.  If  the  latter  agrees,  the  drain  on  his  purse 
is  begun  at  once.  There  are  bills  to  be  paid,  and 
purchases  to  be  made,  all  of  which  are  conducted  in 
due  form.  The  victim  is  soon  tired  out  and  his  purse 
exhausted,  and  the  swindler  has  the  one  excuse, 
"Well,  your  capital  wasn't  big  enough.  If  you  could 
pay  in  a  couple  of  hundred  more  now  we'd  be  all 
right."  There  is  no  redress.  The  plundered  man 
has  paid  no  money  directly  to  his  plunderer,  though 
the  latter  has  received  his  share  of  every  dollar. 

People  who  advertise  pawn  tickets  for  sale  are 
generally  frauds.  The  tickets  are  in  many  cases  sup- 
plied by  pawn-brokers  to  any  one  who  may  apply  for 
them  with  sufficient  interest  to  enjoy  their  confidence. 
They  are  all  for  such  redeemed  pledges  as  would  not 
pay  the  expense  of  sale.  The  advertiser  sells  the 
tickets  for  a  mere  song.  The  purchaser,  if  he  is 
suspicious,  may  not  be  willing  to  buy  the  ticket  with- 
out seeing  the  article  it  represents.  In  that  case  he 
is  taken  to  the  pawnbroker,  to  whom  he  pays  twenty- 
five  cents  for  the  privilege  of  examination.  This 
examination  invariably  leads  to  rejection.  In  that 
case  the  ticket-swindler  gets  half  of  the  search 
money. 


492 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Women  are  the  chief  practicers  of  this  swindle, 
and  it  is  so  extensive  a  one  to-day  that  there  are  cer- 
tain pawnshops  in  this  city  which  have  their  regular 
tools,  and  do  more  business  with  bogus  tickets  than 
in  the  real  traffic  for  which  they  are  licensed.  Really 
honest  people  who  desire  to  sell  pawn  tickets  can 
alw^ays  find  purchasers  for  them  in  the  proprietors  of 
the  many  "old  curiosity  shops"  scattered  all  over 
the  city.  These  speculators  make  a  business  of  re- 
deeming useful  articles  from  pawn  and  selling  them 
at  a  moderate  profit  on  their  outlay. 

There  is  a  class  of  female  swindlers  who  advertise 
as  housekeepers.  These  are  almost  always  of  the 
lowest  order  of  confidence  women.  They  have  an 
associate  of  the  other  sex,  and  occupy  furnished  rooms 
of  which  their  tenancy  is  a  fleeting  one.  If  their 
advertisement  secures  an  answer  they  induce  the  re- 
spondent to  call,  and  engage  him  in  conversation,  in 
the  middle  of  which  the  male  associate  enters.  The 
woman  at  once  accuses  her  caller  of  improprieties, 
her  husband  (?)  resents  them,  and  the  dupe  is  glad 
to  pay  for  his  escape,  unless  he  happens  to  know 
enough  of  life  to  be  aware  that  his  swindlers  dare 
not  tempt  publicity  and  are  only  trying  to  blulf  him. 
Often  a  case  of  this  style  of  blackmail  comes  before 
our  courts  in  the  course  of  a  year,  but  victims  con- 
tinue to  make  it  profitable  for  this  style  of  fraud  to 
pay  the  papers  for  advertising  them. 

Matrimonial  advertisements,  on  the  part  of  both 
male  and  female,  are  usually  inserted  for  the  purpose 
of  inducing  a  correspondence,  which  the  advertiser 
may  utilize  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  blackmail. 


Confidence  Opera  tors,  493 


BEGGING  LETTER  FRAUDS. 

The  begging-letter  fraud  has  come  to  be  a  peculiar 
figure  among  our  local  petty  swindlers.  He,  or  she, 
is  of  English  origin,  where  that  style  of  swindler  has 
flourished  for  more  than  a  century,  in  spite  of  the 
vigorous  pens  of  Fielding  and  Dickens,  both  of  which 
great  authors  loved  to  lay  bare  their  shameless  frau- 
dulency,  and  the  merciless  administration  of  the 
laws  against  medicancy.  There  is  as  regularly  or- 
ganized a  body  of  begging-letter  writers  in  this  city 
as  there  is  in  London.  The  members  comprise  both 
sexes,  and  are  generally  people  of  more  than  average 
education  and  intelligence.  Their  assurance  not  only 
borders  but  overreaches  on  the  incredible.  They 
write  to  everybody  whom  they  think  likely  to  assist 
them,  or  who  has,  in  fact,  any  money  at  all,  without 
the  slightest  excuse  or  claim  upon  their  charity.  The 
late  Commodore  Vanderbilt  was  flooded  with  letters 
from  them.  His  son's  daily  correspondence  always 
contained  similar  communications.  In  the  same  way 
all  our  leading  merchants,  bankers,  and  rich  men  gen- 
erally, are  applied  to  constantly  by  these  infamous 
beggars;  and  well-known  divines,  like  Dr.  Deems, 
the  Rev.  Morgan  Dix,  and  others,  are  constantly  plied 
with  demands  for  charity  from  people  whose  only 
desire  it  is  to  live  without  working  for  it. 

The  professional  writers  of  begging-letters  are  un-. 
doubtedly  the  most  depraved,  worthless  and  utterly 
shameful  of  the  petty  swindlers  who  prey  upon  the 
city.    They  are  people  whose  education  and  natural 
gifts  render  it  easy  for  them  to  earn  honest  livings. 


494  Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City.  I 

Yet  they  pervert  them  to  the  vilest  purposes.  They 
are  rank  hypocrites,  using  the  most  revolting  profes- 
sions of  piety  to  back  their  demands.  The  money 
they  extract  from  the  loose  purses  of  foolish  philan- 
thropists invariably  goes  for  purposes  of  debauchery. 
As  a  local  paper  once  said  : 

"They  are  the  foulest  and  nastiest  of  all  the  foul 
and  nasty  birds  which  subsist,  buzzard-like,  on  the 
ofial  of  the  town.  Whining,  despicable  hounds,  com- 
pared with  whom  a  sneak  thief  is  a  gentleman. " 
Yet  these  sanctimonious  miscreants  find  dupes  who 
possibly  weep  over  the  woes  they  offer  as  excuses 
for  their  appeals,  and  who  certainly  contribute  con- 
stantly to  their  support. 

As  a  class,  the  begging-letter  writers  live  well. 
Some  years  ago,  when  the  officials  of  St.  John's 
Guild  began  to  investigate  the  cases  of  distress  in  New 
York,  they  found  many  of  these  wretches  inhabiting 
elegant  apartments,  enjoying  the  comforts  and  even 
the  luxuries  of  life,  purchased  with  money  wasted  on 
them  by  silly  charity,  while  scores  of  the  deserving 
poor  were  actually  dying,  like  murrained  sheep,  for 
lack  of  sufficient  food.  The  vigorous  press  denun- 
ciation that  followed  the  exposure  of  the  Guild  dealt 
the  vile  business  quite  a  blow ;  but  it  soon  recovered 
itself,  and  is  now,  if  anything,  more  flourishing  than 
ever. 

There  is  one  family,  consisting  of  a  mother  and 
three  daughters,  who  occupy  an  up-town  flat,  dress  in 
the  newest  fashion  and  are  familiar  to  theatre  and 
concert-goers,  who  have  no  other  means  of  subsistence 
than  that  Avhich  they  wheedle  out  of  the  world  by 
begging  letters. 


Confidence  Operators. 


495 


Another  swindler  in  the  same  line  is  a  greasy  old 
scoundrel  who  frequents  a  well  known  chop-house  up- 
town, and  can  frequently  be  seen  writing  his  letters 
there.  But  perhaps  the  rankest  rascal  of  all  is  a  fel 
low  who  affects  the  society  of  actors,  and  can  be  seen 
daily  in  Union  Square,  spending  in  groggeries  there 
the  charity  his  mendicant  talent  has  procured  for  him. 

BOGUS  SMUGGLEES. 

A  familiar  fraud  on  the  New  York  public  is  that 
perpetrated  by  the  bogus  smugglers.  This  typical 
"beat"  is  in  all  cases  a  jovial  personage  in  a  blue  flan« 
nel  suit.  His  favorite  hunting  ground  is  in  down  town 
offices,  where  cunning  clerks  yearn  for  bargains.  He 
blasts  his  binnacle,  shivers  his  timbers  and  swears 
other  strange  sea  oaths  after  the  most  approved  style, 
chews  tobacco  like  hay,  walks  with  a  rolling  gait  and 
is  always  redolent  of  rum.  But  somehow  or  other 
he  never  looks,  to  the  initiated,  like  what  schoolboys 
would  call  a  "  real  sailor. "  He  tells  in  a  mysterious 
whisper  of  how  he  was  steward  or  "bo'son"  or  some 
other  rollicking  functionary  on  a  sea-going  craft,  and 
how,  by  virtue  of  his  position,  he  enjoys  enviable  op- 
portunities to  introduce  rare  and  valuable  commodi- 
ties into  the  country.  These  commodities  he  now  has 
for  sale  at  advantageously  low  prices,  provided  his 
patrons  will  not  "split"  on  him.  They  usually  con- 
sist of  India  shawls,  bolts  of  the  best  English  broad- 
cloth, boxes  of  rare  cigars,  or  bottles  of  bay  rum, 
and  command  a  ready  sale.  The  shawls  are  the  best 
Paisley,  the  cloth  always  turns  out  to  be  pure  shoddy, 
the  cigars  clear  cabbage,  and  the  bay  rum  a  bad 
mixture. 


496  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


These  worthies  are  in  the  market  to-day,  and  thriv- 
ing as  of  yore.  One  evening  the  writer  came  upon  a 
party  of  them  in  a  beer  saloon  on  Third  avenue,  near 
Twenty -third  street,  which  he  learned  is  their  favor- 
ite resort.  He  learned,  furthermore,  that  they  are  a 
gregarious  lot,  working  in  pleasant  amity,  and  meet- 
ing every  night  to  discuss  the  swindles  of  the  day. 
They  were  at  latest  accounts  "  working  a  lay"  as  they 
technically  express  it,  in  the  sale  of  Havana  cigarettes 
and  foreign  cordials,  both  of  which  have  their  origin 
in  New  York.  Their  business  is  a  highly  profitable 
one.  The  wares  they  retail  cost  next  to  nothing,  and 
the  prices  they  obtain  for  them,  though  they  would 
be  ridiculously  low  if  the  articles  were  genuine  and 
imported,  are  still  higher  than  the  dupes  would  have 
to  pay  for  excellent  domestic  ones  purchased  in  a  re- 
gular way.  But  they  pay  for  the  romance  of  buying 
illegal  wares,  and  eventually  discover  that  the  whistle 
is  a  costly  one. 

A  singularly  ingenious  crop  of  very  small  swindles 
has  been  developed  by  the  recent  hard  times.  There 
are  men,  for  instance,  who  are  in  the  habit  of  riding 
next  to  the  Slawson  box  in  a  bobtail  car,  and  accom- 
modatingly putting  the  fares  of  other  passengers  in 
for  them.  There  is  not  one  of  the  bobtail  lines  which 
does  not  preserve  at  least  thousands  of  bad  nickels  as 
souvenirs  of  this  game.  The  Broadway  stage  lines 
encountered  an  equally  novel  swindle  on  their  vehicles. 
They  sold  tickets,  by  the  dollar's  worth,  at  a  discount 
of  nearly  fifty  per  cent.  Men  purchased  packages  at 
that  rate,  and  took  their  places  next  the  fare  boxes 
in  the  stages.    Whenever  a  passenger  permitted  it 


Confidence  Operators. 


497 


they  took  his  money  and  calmh^  pouched  it,  dropping 
one  of  their  tickets  into  the  box  instead.  One  who 
was  arrested  acknowledged  to  a  gain  of  from  $1.50 
to  $4  a  day  by  this  means,  "  according  to  his  luck, " 
as  he  expressed  it. 

BUNDLE  AND  POCKET-BOOK  GAMES. 

The  "bundle  beat"  is  another  character  of  city 
crime.  His  method  of  procedure  is  simplicity  itself. 
He  is  always  decently  dressed,  w^ith  the  appearance 
of  a  light  porter  at  a  dry  goods  store,  and  travels 
with  his  arm  full  of  bundles.  His  first  business  is  to 
learn  the  p€rso7iale  of  any  quiet  street  where  private 
dwelling's  of  the  middle  class  abound.  Then  he  rin^rs 
at  a  door  and  delivers  one  of  the  bundles,  v/ith  the 
information  that  Mr.  Blodger,  who  lives  there,  bought 
such  and  such  articles,  and  as  he  was  short  of  money 
desired  them  to  be  sent  home  and  paid  for  there.  If 
Mr.  Blodger  happens  to  be  home  and  to  be  the  phys- 
ical equal  of  the  "  bundle  beat, "  that  person  generally 
has  a  rough  time  of  it.  But  if  he  is  out,  as  the 
swindler  usually  makes  sure  he  is,  his  wife  or  land- 
lady accepts  the  trust  unhesitatingly  and  pays  the 
required  sum,  which  is  always  kept  small  to  allay 
suspicion.    The  bundle,  of  course,  is  worthless. 

The  pocket-book  dropping  games,  and  the  various 
other  confidence  operations  by  which  verdant  visitors 
to  the  city  are  constantly  gulled,  have  been  too  fre- 
quently described  to  call  for  dissection  here.  There 
is  a  shameful  swindle  by  which  poor  men,  alone,  are 
the  sufferers,  which  makes  its  appearance  with  great 
regularity.    This  is  the  registry  office  swindle. 


498  Wonders  of  a  Great  Oity. 


The  originator  of  tliis  device  was  one  Henry  Acklin, 
an  Englishman,  who  had  graduated  at  petty  swindling 
in  the  London  police  courts.  His  system  was  beauti- 
fully simple,  and  is  that  followed  by  his  many  imita- 
tors, who  crop  out  from  time  to  time,  and  pursue  a 
prosperous  career  until  some  victim  invokes  the  law 
for  their  suppression.  The  operator  advertises  in 
several  of  the  leading  daily  journals  the  establish- 
ment  of  a  registry  office  for  procuring  situations  for 
clerks,  bookkeepers,  salesmen,  porters,  etc.,  and  an- 
nounces that  he  has  positions  ready  for  a  number  of 
each  class.  On  applying  to  this  philanthropist,  the 
seeker  after  employment  finds  that  a  so-called  registry 
fee  of  two  dollars  is  demanded,  and  if  he  is  green 
enough  pays  it,  when  his  name  is  entered  with  much 
formality  upon  the  books.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to 
add  that  this  is  the  end  of  it,  so  far  as  any  situation 
is  concerned.  He  is  told  to  call  again,  and  may  keep 
on  doing  so  for  half  a  generation  without  getting  any 
satisfaction — that  is,  if  the  office  doesn't  close  before 
the  next  rent  day  comes  around,  which  is  likely  to  be 
the  case. 

SHAM  INSPECTOES. 

Not  long  ago  the  discovery  was  made  that  a  man 
in  Fulton  street  had  for  a  long  time  been  driving  a 
thriving  trade  by  the  manufacture  of  bogus  police, 
fire  and  other  badges.  Among  his  stock  were  found 
excellent  counterfeits  of  the  badges  provided  for  In- 
spectors of  Weights  and  Measures.  Fraudulent 
officials  of  this  class  have  long  ranked  among  the 
petty  swindlers  of  New  York,  assisted  by  these  imita- 


Confidence  Operators.  499 

tions  of  the  insignia  worn  by  the  duly  authorized  in- 
cumbents of  the  positions.  In  the  course  of  his  cruise 
in  search  of  petty  swindles  the  writer  encountered  a 
curious  case  in  point. 

I It  was  a  corner  grocery  in  Essex  street,  into  which 
the  swindle  seeker  had  stepped  to  lave  his  parched 
throat  with  a  draught  of  the  lager  retailed  in  the  back 
room.  An  individual  in  a  dingy  and  baggy  blue 
flannel  suit,  under  whose  lappel  glittered  a  badge  as 
big  as  a  sauce-pan  lid,  occupied  the  front  of  the 
counter.  An  excited  German  stood  behind  it.  He 
was  in  that  state  of  frenzy  that  he  might  have  been 
i    talking  Zulu  as  well  as  any  other  known  language. 

More  by  inference  than  anything  else,  the  reporter 
I    gleaned  the  knowledge  that  the  man  with  the  badge 
was  an  inspector  of  weights  and  measures,  and  that 
j    the  German  was  very  angry  with  him  indeed. 

"I  Avon't  pay  one  cent,"  he  vociferated;  "I  paid 
one  of  you  chaps  two  dollars  yesterday,  I  tell  you. " 

"Then  you  was  stuck,"  said  the  inspector,  calmly 
picking  a  herring  from  a  box  and  commenced  to  nib- 
ble it." 

"I  was  stuck?" 

"You  was  bilked,  beat,  fooled,  you  know. " 
''How  is  that?" 

"Because  that  feller  yesterday  was  a  fraud. " 
"That  is  what  they  all  say.    He  told  me  that  the 
fellow  before  him  was  a  fraud. " 
"Well,  maybe  he  was." 
"Then  what  one  of  you  is  not  a  fraud?" 
"I  ain't  one.    Can't  you  see  that  by  my  badge?" 
The  grocer  clasped  his  hands  and  rolled  his  eyes 


500  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

appealingly.  ''AcTi  Gott!'"  he  growled.  "They  all 
have  badges. " 

Some  further  parley  followed,  when  the  grocer 
handed  the  man  wdth  the  badge  a  couple  of  half  dol- 
lars and  the  latter  retired  with  graceful  haste.  The 
host  had  hardly  drawn  the  reporter's  beer  w^hen  an- 
other man  with  a  badge,  in  company  with  a  police- 
man, entered. 

"I  say,"  he  asked,  "wasn't  there  a  feller  here  a 
minute  ago  w^ho  said  he  was  an  inspector?" 

The  grocer  gasped  an  affirmative. 

"Did  you  notice  which  way  he  went?" 

"That  way." 

"Then  we've  got  him,  the  blaggard!"  exclaimed  the 
policeman.  "He'll  stop  at  the  next  store,  and  I'll 
have  him. " 

And  he  shot  out,  w^hile  his  companion  turned  to 
the  grocer  and  said,  jauntily  : 

"Well,  you  might  as  well  trot  out  them  weights 
now. " 

"What!" 

"Show  up  the  weights.  I  want  to  inspect  'em,  you 
know. " 

A  gleam  of  lurid  desperation  flashed  in  the  grocer's 
eye.  "Oh!  you  vant  to  inspect  'em,  do  you  ?"  he  said 
hoarsely;  "veil,  begin  right  avay. " 

And  he  hurled  a  three-pound  dish  at  the  inspector's 
head.  The  latter  dodged  it,  when  a  fusilade  of  small 
weights  began  to  rattle  among  the  soap  and  candle 
boxes  behind  him.  When  the  writer  left  by  the  back 
door  the  grocer's  ammunition  was  exhausted,  the 
genuine  inspector  had  fled,  and  a  file  of  boys  were 


Confidence  Opera  tors. 


501 


making  short  work  of  the  watermelons  in  front  of 
the  door. 

PROPEKTY  OF  ORPHANS  AND  WIDOWS. 

Advertisements  will  be  met  in  which  a  widow  or 
reduced  lady,  alone  in  the  world,  wishes  to  dispose  of 
a  piano,  organ,  jewelry,  etc.  "No  agents  or  brokers 
need  apply. "  Little  fear  of  that.  Agents  and  brokers 
smell  the  mice  at  the  first  line.  The  scheme  is  profit- 
able, nevertheless.  The  woman  is  a  smart  actress. 
She  has  a  smooth  tale  of  distress,  of  reluctance  to 
part  with  the  watch  her  dear  departed  wore,  the  har- 
monium he  played  upon — the  present  given  him  by 
the  Grand  Duke  in  transitu.  And  when  she  sells  the 
object,  and  sees  you  leave  with  the  parcel,  she  will 
pull  another  from  the  back  room  into  its  place  and 
send  around  to  the  newspaper  office  to  "repeat"  that 
"ad"  with  all  that  happy  ease  and  knowledge  of  the 
value  of  time  for  want  of  seeing  which  man  re- 
proaches her  sex!  She  has  discovered,  this  meek 
creature  in  cr^pe^  that  crocodile  tears  are  very  like 
pearls  of  price. 

The  piano  will  have  a  plate  attached  which  never 
was  legitimately  affixed  by  its  maker,  the  fur  coat 
will  thaw  before  winter  and  evaporate  in  moths,  the 
gold  watch  made  by  Nodoham  to  order,  "regardless," 
will  turn  out  such  as  no  Nodoham's  journeyman 
should  have  turned  out.    You  will  be  done  brown. 

BOGUS  SUBSCRIPTIONS. 

On  the  occasion  of  an  unexampled  calamity  or  re- 
joicing, for  any  sheep  yields  wool  to  the  disreputable, 
beware  of  the  self-instituted  collector  of  subscrip- 


502 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tioiLS.    In  a  small  way,  lie  will  take  off  liis  liat  in  a 
crowd  and  take  it  round,  and  render  as  little  account 
of  the  harvest  as  possible.    In  a  more  elaborate  J 
style,  he  is  furnished  with  a  lot  of  subscriptions,  and 
goes  to  the  houses  and  stores  which  he  and  his  frater. 
nity  have  "spotted"  as  being  bone  {hono^  good,  "soft 
to  work").    Yon  educated  and  cunning  man  has  ; 
prepared  the  scroll ;  you  may  easily  be  deceived  but  I 
for   this  warning.    Generals,   ex-mayors,  captains, 
reverends — the  names  look  genuine ;  but  in  no  case 
pay  and  sign  then  and  there.    Seize  the  paper,  and  i 
announce  your  intention  to  accompany  the  collector 
to  the  house  of  the  nearest  neighbor  inscribed.  An 
honest  man  will  gladly  embrace  the  chance  of  having  • 
more  for  the  fund  by  your  natural  remorse  at  having 
unjustly  suspected.    But  have  little  fear  of  this  ;  the  i 
man  will  take  to  his  heels  or  vanish  somehow  under 
cover  of  a  quite  malapropos  outburst  of  fury. 

THE  PALMER-OFF  OF  SHAM  JEWELS. 

Some  time  you  w^U  be  strolling  the  streets  (more 
often  at  dusk  than  in  the  day  will  this  adventure  hap-  I 
pen),  when  a  man  will  approach  you  or  warily  over- 
take you.  Instead  of  trying  to  lure  you  by  affected 
candor  and  bluntness,  he  will  be  thick-laid  with 
mystery,  glances  askant,  timorousness,  and  he  attunes 
his  voice  to  a  hoarse  whisper.  He  shows  an  object 
in  his  half-closed  hand  so  that  you  only  can  see  it,  , 
and  that  imperfectly.  He  says  that  he  is  a  poor 
man,  has  had  no  work,  no  food,  no  home,  but  up  to 
noAV  has  clung  to  this  last  memorial  of  his  better 
days;  the  pawnbroker's  certificate  of  his  father's 


Confidence   Opera  tors. 


503 


watch,  motlier's  brooch,  golden-haired  sister's  locket 
— what  you  will,  and  you  may  have  it  at  your  own 
price.  Send  him  about  his  business,  if  you  have  no 
time  to  prosecute  him  for  swindling.  The  pawn  card 
is  either  an  obsolete  one  or  a  new  one  altered  in 
amount  or  description  of  article,  or  even  got  up  by 
arangement  with  the  pawnbroker,  who  pretends  to 
have  lent  the  sum  on  the  face. 

When  this  cheat  turns  to  another  branch  of  this 
"lay,"  he  offers  trinkets,  foreign  coins,  or  any  peculiar 
articles  of  which  the  value  is  not  generally  known  or 
imaginable,  being  gilt  for  the  occasion ;  he  then 
speaks  a  smattering  of  a  foreign  tongue  more  or  less 
suitable  to  the  object  in  question ;  or  he  may  pretend 
perfect  ignorance  of  the  value  of  the  thing  which  he 
has  found,  and  which  "a  gentleman  like  you"  can 
take  to  a  jeweler's  in  the  morning  and  have  it  tested, 
which  he  cannot  do. 

"The  same  rogue  will  array  himself  as  a  seaman 
and,  finding  a  loiterer,  show  French  gloves,  fans, 
silks,  or  any  apparently  fine  and  fancy  goods,  which 
he  hints  a  mate  of  his  on  some  long  voyage  steamer 
has  smuggled.  The  articles  will  be  found  on  proper 
inspection  to  be  remnants,  job  lots,  brushed  up  for 
this  twilight  sale. 

With  confederates,  he  "works  the  dropped  pocket- 
book  dodge,"  which  is  detailed  under  the  head  of 
"Confidence  Men." 

"queer"  pictures  and  dubious  books. 

Since  the  Comstock  laws  upon  bad  and  detestable 
publications,  they  prowl  about  the  saloons  near  thea- 


504 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tres,  in  concert  halls  by  the  bars,  and  at  Sunday  out- 
door resorts  men,  commonly  pimply-faced,  shirt, 
collarless  and  tremulous,  who  either  corner  you  and 
expose  a  more  or  less  horrible  photograph  or  picture 
without  a  word,  or  venture  to  oifer  a  book  with  a 
suggestive  title  of  double  meaning.  In  most  cases  it  is 
(so  to  say)  to  their  credit  (?)  that  they  do  not  sell  the 
book  or  print  or  even  anything  injurious  to  morality, 
though  the  victim  believes,  after  paying  a  stiff  price, 
that  he  has  secured  the  forbidden  fruit.  With  slight 
of  hand  he  has  been  deceived  at  some  stage  of 
the  transfer.  Either  the  plates  have  been  whipped 
invisibly  out  of  the  book  in  which  they  were  ap- 
parently firmly  secure,  or  quite  another  volume  is 
pasted  into  a  wrapper  in  its  stead.  Of  course  the 
deluder  counts  upon  the  double  protection  of  his 
prey,  neither  wishing  to  reveal  his  gullibility  nor  his 
desire  to  possess  an  outlawed  work. 

MINOR  FRAUDS. 

False  ticket  sellers  infest  the  whai'ves  and  railroad 
depots.    They  appeal  to  the  desire  of  men  a  little 
short  or  too  fond  of  money  by  offering  them  tickets 
to  their  would-be  destination  "on  the  cheap."  They 
begin  their  proceedings  by  sidling  up  and  studying  ! 
the  tim#-table  alongside  you  and  launching  some  en- 
tangling phrase.    They  prefer  to  get  you  to  conclude  i 
the  purchase  of  the  ticket  which  a  friend  cannot  use 
(wife  ill,  child  to  be  buried,  obliged  to  stay  another 
week  to  collect  some  bills — these  city  men  bl-t-d  bad  j 
pay,  ain't  they  now?  etc.)  in  a  neighboring  saloon.  If 
you  do  not  drink  freely,  they  will  sell  you  the  ticket 


4 


Confidence  Operators. 


505 


such  as  it  is.  However  "straight"  it  may  look  on 
the  face  of  it,  its  face  is  false  as  theirs,  and  you  may 
even  fall  into  trouble  on  the  line  for  attempting  a 
fraud  on  the  company.  Besides,  in  giving  change, 
these  pests  are  likely  to  substitute  counterfeits  for 
your  greenbacks. 

If  you  have  made  the  acquaintance  of  an  agreeable 
stranger,  and  in  the  cordial  chat  let  out  your  notoriety 
in  your  parts  for  some  game  of  skill,  look  out! 
before  many  minutes  you  too  will  meet,  by  hazard, 
a  friend  of  your  new  friend,  who  will  be  bantered 
into  matching  you  at  your  favorite  sport.  Your 
friend  A.  will  whisper  you  that  he  is  "puffing"  the 
other  fellow  to  get  him  "on,"  so  you  can  beat  him 
thoroughly.  You  will  then  go  and  play.  You  may 
be  let  win  freely  at  the  commencement;  but,  when 
you  are  hot  at  it,  the  bungling  B.  will  gradually 
throw  off  his  mask,  and  leave  you,  metaphorically, 
a  "busted  biler,"  while  he  walks  off  with  A.  and 
your  stake. 

NEW  YORK  HOESE  SHAEKS. 

Napoleon  Bonaparte  Sinclair,  a  veteran  stevedore, 
is  a  little  old  man  and  dresses  like  a  farmer.  If 
there  is  anything  he  particularly  prides  himself  on  it  is 
his  knowledge  of  live  stock  and  his  ability  to  "size  up" 
a  bit  of  horseflesh  at  sight.  Eecently  Mr.  Sinclair's 
interest  in  that  sort  of  thing  took  him  up  to  the 
American  horse  exchange  at  Fiftieth  street  to  attend 
the  cattle  sale.  While  he  was  looking  around  a  gen- 
tleman of  pleasing  manners  got  to  chatting  with  him 
about  stock.    The  gentleman   said   he  was  Mr. 


« 


506  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

Wheeler,  and  that  he  represented  Mrs.  Morgan,  of 
West  Sixty-fifth  street.  He  said  Mrs.  Morgan  was 
going  to  sail  for  Europe  on  Monday,  and  had  a  fine 
Jersey  cow  and  calf  which  she  was  anxious  to  put 
out  on  some  responsible  farmer's  place  during  her 
absence.  Did  Mr.  Sinclair  happen  to  know  anyone 
who  would  take  care  of  the  cow  and  calf  ?  Why, 
yes  ;  Mr.  Sinclair  thought  he  could  accommodate  the 
lady  on  his  ow^n  farm  in  Westchester  county.  That 
would  just  suit  Mrs.  Morgan,  Mr.  Wheeler  said,  and 
he  seemed  delighted  at  the  idea.  Would  Mr.  Sinclair 
step  up  to  the  stable  and  take  a  look  at  the  cow  and 
calf  ?  Why,  certainly ;  Mr.  Sinclair  would  be  glad  to 
go.    So  he  and  Mr.  Wheeler  strolled  up-cown. 

At  the  stable  Mr.  Sinclair  saAv  the  Jersey  and  her 
pretty  little  offspring,  and  promptly  made  arrange- 
ments to  board  them  for  the  summer,  Mr.  Wheeler 
offering  liberal  terms.  •  Mr.  Sinclair  was  pleased  with 
the  cordial  way  Mr.  Wheeler  treated  him.  Just  be- 
fore he  started  to  come  away  Mr.  Wheeler  showed 
him  a  fine  sorrel  mare  in  one  stall  of  the  stable, 
which  he  said  Mrs.  Morgan  had  advertised  for  sale. 

"Pretty  j)iece  of  horseflesh,  eh?"  said  Mr.  Wheeler, 
and  then  to  the  hostler  :  "John,  bring  her  out  and 
let  the  gentleman  see  how  she  moves.  I  know  you're 
a  judge  of  a  good  horse  when  you  clap  your  eyes 
on  one,  Mr.  Sinclair." 

The  veteran  stevedore  beamed  all  over  at  this  flat- 
tering unction.  He  acknowledged  that  he  did  know 
a  thing  or  two  about  horseflesh,  and  he  examined  the 
sorrel  mare  with  the  critical  eye  of  a  coimoisseur. 
"A  mighty  tidy  beast  she  is,"  he  vouchsafed  approv- 
ingly, "neat  and  trim  as  a  clipper  yacht." 


Confidence   Operators.  507 


At  this  point  there  was  a  caller  in  response  to 
Mrs.  Morgan's  "ad."  Mr.  Wheeler  excused  himself 
from  Mr.  Sinclair  for  a  moment  and  brought  in  the 
stranger,  who  examined  the  sorrel  mare  closely. 

"I'll  take  her  for  $350,"  he  said  at  length. 

"All  right,"  replied  Mr.  Wheeler,  after  debating 
the  matter  a  few  minutes.  "What's  the  name, 
please  ? " 

Mr.  Sinclair  doesn't  remember  what  name  the 
stranger  gave,  but  Mr.  Wheeler  at  once  said:  "Oh, 
that  makes  a  difference.  I  can't  sell  the  mare  to 
you,  sir." 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  you  keep  a  livery  stable.  Mrs.  Morgan 
particularly  instructed  me  not  to  sell  the  mare,which 
had  been  her  pet,  to  anyone  who  would  not  give  the 
mare  the  best  care  and  attention.  Mrs.  Morgan  would 
not  think  of  letting  her  old  favorite  go  into  a  livery 
stable. 

The  stranger  was  greatly  put  out  at  this  statement, 
and  Mr.  Wheeler  was  extremely  sorry.  Finally  be- 
tween them  Mr.  Sinclair's  name  was  suggested,  and  it 
was  proposed  that  Mr.  Wheeler  let  the  stevedore 
have  the  mare  for  $300,  and  then  the  livery  man 
could  buy  her  back  for  $350.  That  just  tickled  old 
Mr.  Sinclair  so  that  he  could  hardly  stand  still.  But 
he  did,  and  shrewdly  dissimulated  a  reluctance  to 
go  into  the  deal.  Finally  he  was  persuaded,  however, 
and  at  once  drew  a  check  for  $300  to  Mr.  Wheeler. 
It  was  understood  by  the  stranger  that  Mr.  Sinclair 
would  turn  over  the  sorrel  mare  when  the  livery  man 
called  on  him  the  following  morning  with  a  $350 


508  WONDEBS  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


check,  the  mare  meanwhile  remaining  in  Mrs.  Mor-  ' 
gan's  stable.  "But  if  that  liveryman  thinks  he  is 
going  to  get  the  mare  he  will  find  that  he  is  mightily 
mistaken  when  he  calls,"  said  Mr.  Sinclair,  with  a 
chuckle,  "I'm  just  going  to  keep  her  myself.  She  is 
a  beauty,  and  I  got  her  at  a  slick  bargain. " 

Later  in  the  evening  some  friend  of  the  veteran  ! 
stevedore  gave  him  a  pointer.  "Do  you  know  this  j 
fellow  Wheeler?"  asked  the  friend.  "No."  "Then  ' 
you're  ^done'  for  $300  as  sure  as  you're  a  day  old." 

The  old  "horse-trader  fake"  was  explained  to  Mr. 
Sinclair,  and  he  rushed  around  to  his  bank  to  stop  . 
payment  on  the  $300  check.  He  arrived  a  few  min-  j 
utes  too  late.  When  he  visited  Wheeler  the  latter 
pretended  not  to  know  him,  and  by  a  dozen  witnesses 
proved  that  he  had  been  out  of  town  all  day.  The 
beautiful  mare  was  also  missing.  The  "^sucker"  w^as 
finally  j^ersuaded  to  take  a  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
and  try  to  forget  the  transaction.  The  New  York 
horse  sharks  do  a  rushing  business. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
THE  CRIMINAL  CLASS. 


STATISTICS  OF  THE  PIRATE  ELEMENT  OF  THE  METROPOLIS — PROFES- 
SIONAL THIEVES  AND  THEIR  METHODS  OP  MAKING  A  TURN — THE 
BANK  BURGLAR — THIEVES  AND  THEIR  RELATIONS  TO  THE  MODERN 
VIDOCQ's — NIGHT  HACKMEN  WHO  ROB  THEIR  FARES— REFORMATION 
OUT  OF  THE  QUESTION — IN  A  DEN  OF  THIEVES. 

EEE  a  poll  of  New  York  taken  it  is  highly 
probable  tliat  ten  thousand  members  of 
the  criminal  class  would  be  found.  It  would  be 
a  difficult  matter  to  catalogue  the  different  degrees 
and  operatives  successfully.  Only  one  man  has  been 
bold  enough  to  attempt  such  a  task.  He  is  Inspector 
Byrnes  and  his  extensive  acquaintance  enabled  him 
to  write  a  book  which  has  proved  the  terror  of  all 
evil  doers,  so  faithful  is  it  in  every  detail  from  picture 
to  wood  painting.  Thieves,  burglars,  river  and 
sneak  thieves,  pickpockets  and  "fences" — receivers 
of  stolen  property,  comprise  a  majority  of  the  class. 
The  remainder  are  swindlers,  blackmailers  and  lot- 
tery men.  Robbery  is  the  principal  form  of  crime, 
no  matter  its  degree  and  whatever  the  outcome  or 
the  method  employed  the  original  incentive  was  rob- 
bery. Recently  ex-Police  Superintendent  "Walling, 
thus  described  the  thieves  of  this  city : 


510 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


"New  York  thieves  are  of  tAvo  sorts — those  who 
steal  only  when  they  are  tempted  by  want,  or  when 
an  unusual  opportunity  for  thieving  is  thrown  in  their 
way,  and  those  who  make  a  regular  business  of  steal- 
ing. A  professional  thief  ranks  among  his  fellows 
according  to  his  ability.  Many  professional  thieves  | 
are  burglars.  They  drink  to  excess,  and  commit  so  j 
many  blunders  that  they  are  easily  detected  by  the 
police.  They  gamble  a  great  deal.  When  successful  i 
they  quarrel  over  their  booty,  and  often  betray  each 
other.  A  smart  thief  seldom  drinks,  and  never 
allows  himself  to  get  under  the  influence  of  liquor. 
He  takes  care  to  keep  himself  in  the  best  physical 
trim ;  and  is  always  ready  for  a  long  run  when  pur- 
sued, or  a  desperate  struggle  when  cornered.  He  must 
always  have  his  wits  about  him.  A  thief  of  this 
class  makes  a  successful  bank  robber,  forger  or  con- 
fidence swindler.  Professional  thieves  seldom  have 
any  home.  Many  of  them  find  temporary  shelter  in 
a  dull  season  in  houses  of  ill -repute.  They  associate 
with,  and  are  often  married  to,  disreputable  women, 
many  of  whom  are  also  thieves.  The  smartest  thieves 
do  not  have  homes,  for  the  reason  that  they  dare  not 
remain  long  in  one  place  for  fear  of  arrest.  During 
the  summer,  New  York  thieves  are  to  be  found  at  all 
the  watering  places  and  seaside  resorts.  Later  in  the 
season  they  attend  the  country  fairs  and  agiicultural 
shows,  and  come  back  to  the  city  at  the  beginning 
of  the  winter.  They  are  fond  of  political  meetings 
in  Jersey  City  and  other  places  near  New  York,  but 
do  not  appear  at  such  meetings  in  this  city.  They 
are  classed  as  burglars,  bank  sneaks,  damper  sneaks, 


The  Criminal  Class,  511 


safe-blowers,  safe-bursters,  sneak  thieves,  confidence 
men  and  pickpockets.  A  burglar  seldom  attempts 
the  part  of  a  sneak  thief,  and  a  pickpocket  will  seldom 
undertake  a  burglary. 

HOW  THEY  OPERATE. 

The  burglar  is  the  recognized  high  man  of  the 
criminal  class,  and  boasts  that  he  differs  from  a  mere 
thief  owing  to  his  possession  of  brains  to  plan  and 
nerve  to  execute.  The  biggest  game  to  a  burglar  is 
a  bank.  When  a  burglar  concludes  to  "crack"  a 
bank  he  usually  calls  a  safe  burster  or  blower  to  his 
assistance.  He  may  in  order  to  get  acquainted  with 
the  bank  open  a  small  account  with  it  and  thus  care- 
fully observe  its  interior  arrangement.  He  obtains  a 
room  in  the  building  if  possible,  and  with  his  confed- 
erate cuts  through  the  floor  or  wall,  as  the  case  may 
be.  Once  within  the  bank,  the  safe  blower  goes  to 
work.  He  drills  holes  around  the  lock  of  the  safe, 
charges  them  with  gunpowder,  wra]3S  the  safe  in  a 
blanket  to  deaden  the  noise  of  the  explosion  and  the 
rest  is  easy.  When  a  safe  is  not  blown  up  it  is  broken 
by  the  burster.  He  drills  holes  in  the  door  around 
the  lock,  inserts  minature  jack  screws  and  bursts  the 
lock  in  a  few  minutes.  The  bank  sneak  watches  his 
chance  at  the  counter  to  snatch  bonds  or  currency. 
If  he  secures  the  former  he  usually  obtains  a  reward 
for  them  with  no  questions  asked. 

The  sneak  thieves  are  the  lowest  of  the  professional 
thieves.  They  confine  their  operations  to  dwellings 
and  stores  in  the  main. 

The  most  impudent  of  the  sneak  thieves,  whose 


512 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


line  is  to  steal  clothes  from  passages  in  dwellings, 
hotels,  and  business  places,  do  not  fear  to  follow  into 
a  house  any  resident  who  has  admitted  himself  with 
a  latchkey.  In  many  cases,  as  they  conjecture,  this 
is  a  boarder  or  lodger,  who,  naturally  conceiving  that 
the  man  has  some  call  there,  goes  on  his  way  up-stairs 
or  into  a  room,  leaving  the  other  to  summon  the 
servant.  Instead  of  that,  the  sneak  dons  an  overcoat, 
seizes  an  umbrella  or  cane,  exchanges  his  hat  for  a 
better  one,  and  departs.  Again,  to  have  a  moment 
at  the  clothes-rack  alone,  he  Avill  boldly  ring  or  knock, 
send  the  servant  to  her  master  or  mistress  with  a 
plausible  message  or  to  ask  after  an  imaginary  per- 
son whom  he  assures  her  lived  there  formerly.  He 
has  been  known  to  change  his  hat  or  coat  for  one  on 
the  pegs,  and  await  the  girl's  return,  trusting  to  keep 
her  in  talk  while  he  makes  off  without  her  perceiving 
the  substitution. 

The  lower  grade  of  pickpockets  run  risks  by  at- 
tempting to  rob  those  who  perliaps  have  no  great 
amount  of  money  on  their  person.  The  tip-toppers 
study  their  game  closer  and  at  length.  They  follow 
a  likely  "soft  thing"  to  a  bank,  see  what  he  receives 
and  where  he  puts  it,  and  dog  him  about  for  hours 
till  the  favorable  moment  comes.  They  will  extract 
the  contents  of  a  stolen  pocketbook  and  replace  the 
book,  if  needed  to  prevent  suspicion  arising  whilst 
they  leave  the  place.  There  is  no  better  way  to 
baffle  them  than  to  divide  money  into  several  pockets, 
to  button  up  when  going  through  a  crowd,  and  have 
a  loop  in  your  watch-pocket,  through  which  the  watch 
will  not  pass,  though  the  chain  moves  freely.  One 


The  Criminal  Class. 


513 


should  not  let  two  or  three  women,  under  pretence  to 
have  a  treat,  surround  and  hustle  him  on  coming  out 
of  the  club,  a  ball  or  a  theater.  They  are  not  amor- 
ous, they  are  not  smitten ;  they  are  pickpockets,  and 
one  will  lose  by  their  familiarities.  The  vagrant  who 
started  up  like  magic  to  hold  the  door  open  for  one's 
descent  or  entrance,  to  offer  to  carry  a  carpet-bag,  to 
sell  matches — he  often  uses  his  offer  of  services 
merely  to  get  near  you  and  steal  a  locket,  under  cover 
of  one  ragged  arm,  or  a  newspaper,  or  whatever  else 
he  may  affect  to  sell. 

The  river  thieves  operate  in  gangs  of  three  or  four. 
With  boats  they  row  about  the  wharves  and  shipping, 
stealing  what  they  may.  Three  river  pirates  will  go 
through  a  vessel  in  a  jiffy.  If  detected,  they  try  to 
escape  by  pleading  a  mistake.  If  their  plea  is  not 
accepted,  then  desperate  resistance  to  capture  is  made. 
The  "fence"  is  the  man  who  purchases  the  property 
stolen  by  thieves.  He  is  always  on  the  alert,  and  is 
seldom  caught  making  a  bargain  with  a  stranger. 
A  fence  usually  conducts  a  second-hand  store  or  a 
pawnshop. 

THIEVES  KNJ)  POLICE. 

Nothing  better  illustrates  the  relationship  between 
criminals  and  the  police  than  the  curious  features  of 
police  work.  Whether  there  are  not  any  such  detec- 
tives as  Vidocq  is  a  question,  but  there  is  no  question 
that  the  conditions  under  which  our  Vidocqs  work 
are  wholly  different  from  the  conditions  that  gave 
the  great  Frenchman  a  chance  to  display  his  ability. 
No  longer  is  it  the  case  that  the  head  of  a  detective 


514  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


force  upon  being  confronted  with  a  mysterious  crime 
picks  out  a  man  in  his  command  and  says:  "Kobin- 
son,  here  is  a  penknife  and  a  pair  of  rubbers  left  by 
a  mysterious  murderer;  take  them  and  track  him 
down."  That  was  the  old  way  (it  still  is  in  the 
country),  and  a  man  had  to  be  a  Vidocq  to  do  the 
work.  Persons  nowadays  who  think  the  romantic 
detective  work  of  fiction,  and  the  stage  are  like  the 
work  of  to-day  marvel  greatly  when  they  see  a  stupid- 
looking,  coarse,  clumsy  fellow,  such  as  some  New 
York  detectives  are,  and  say  to  themselves:  "Is  it 
possible  that  such  a  man  can  play  as  many  parts  as  a 
great  actor  and  possesses  a  mind  boch  broad  and 
subtle,  capable  of  Vidocq's  work  Nonsense  !  No. 
It  is  only  once  in  a  while  that  such  a  genius  is  needed, 
and  then  if  he  is  not  at  hand  we  get  along  without 
him  and  add  another  crime  to  the  list  of  mysteries, 
a  la  Burdell,  a  la  Nathan,  a  la  Ross,  and  a  la  Stewart's 
body. 

The  basis  of  detective  work  now  is  the  acquaintance 
of  detectives  with  criminals.  Every  such  fine-tooth 
combing  as  this  one  just  finished  enlarges  that  ac. 
quaint ance  and  makes  it  deej^er.  It's  frightfully 
dull  and  prosaic,  but  it's  found  to  be  practical  and 
reasonably  efiicient.  For  instance,  we  have  a  large 
force  here  in  town,  under  Inspector  Byrnes  and  Su- 
perintendent Murray.  There  are  about  fifty  full 
fledged  detective  sergeants  who  are  paid  and  rank  as 
police  sergeants,  and  there  are  about  one  hundred 
detectives  who  rank  as  patrolmen.  The  latter  are 
keenly  ambitious  to  become  sergeants ;  the  sergeants 
are  equally  ambitious  not  to  be  reduced  to  their 


The  Criminal  Class. 


515 


former  rank  as  patrolmen.  There  you  have  the  motive 
of  the  corps.  Each  one  has  his  work  cut  out  for  him 
and  he  makes  himself  proficient  in  that  during  dull 
times.  For  instance,  such  conversations  as  these  oc- 
cur between  Inspector  Byrnes  and  his  men:  "Mr. 
Kyan,  is  Jack  Sheppard  still  living  in  Harlem  and 
does  he  hang  out  in  McMann's  gin  mill,  and  is  that 
woman  still  with  him?" 

"I  don't  think  there's  been  any  change,  sir,"  is  the 
reply. 

"Well,  run  up  to  Harlem  and  find  out  all  about 
him  and  what  he  is  up  to.  Mr.  Doyle,  skip  over  to 
Fort  Hamilton  and  look  after  your  parties,  Blueskin, 
Eed  Leary,  Guy  Fawkes  and  the  Kid.  And  you, 
Schmidt,  knock  around  among  the  anarchists.  We 
don't  know  what  they  are  doing  or  are  going  to  do. 
Find  out  all  about  'em. " 

A  prodigious  amount  of  knowledge  is  gained  and 
kept  up  in  this  way.  Give  each  man  several  subjects, 
as  each  one  has,  and  the  result  is  that  there  is  not  a 
professional  in  town  who  cannot  be  located  in  an  hour 
if  he  is  in  tow^n  or  tracked  if  out  of  town.  This 
knowledge  embraces  a  close  acquaintance  with  the 
habits  of  the  crooks,  their  mistresses,  friends,  the 
liquor  stores  and  gambling  hells  they  frequent,  the 
fences  where  they  borrow  when  hard  up,  and  the  lines 
of  work  on  which  they  operate  as  well  as  the  gangs 
they  operate  with.  It  is  said  that  our  city  detectives 
know  all  this  absolutely.  But  the  Weeks  case  went 
beyond  all  this.  When  they  ceased  their  blind  and 
general  work  and  settled  upon  Greenwell  of  the 
lodging-house  gang  as  the  man  they  said  that  they 


516  Wonders  of  a  Great  Gity. 

knew  from  the  first  that  the  crime  was  not  the  work  | 
of  good  men.    Professional  criminals  are  always  J 
spoken  of  respectfully  by  the  police  as  good  men.  1 
The  truth  probably  is  that  they  felt  pretty  certain  it  | 
was  not  the  work  of  a  professional  because  it  did  not  I 
tally  with  professional  methods.  wL 
"Good  men,"  said  Superintendent  Murray,  the  ablest  1 
policeman  we  have  to-day,  though  too  modest  to  pre- 
vent others  taking  credit  for  his  work,  "  good  men 
will  do  anything  rather  than  shoot  when  they  are 
cracking  a  place.    They  will  give  up  the  job,  run  * 
away,  or  even  take  a  beating  before  they  will  pull  a  ' 
trigger.    It  is  only  when  they  are  cornered  and  see 
a  long  sentence  staring  them  in  the  face  that  they 
will  commit  an  assault,  and  then  they  prefer  not  to 
kill.'' 

But  whatever  the  police  knew,  they  despised  no 
efforts,  however  contrary  to  reason,  that  might  lead 
to  the  capture  of  Week's  slayer.  With  very  few  ex- 
ceptions, every  captain,  ward  fly-cop,  sergeant,  and 
roundsman  in  New  York,  and  very  many  patrolmen 
besides,  interested  themselves  in  this  case,  and  as 
each  one  knew  some  criminals,  criminals'  friends, 
haunt,  or  women,  the  cinder-heap  got  a  good  sifting. 
And  thus  we  come  to  the  curious  relationship  existing 
between  these  forces,  naturally  so  hostile.  The  police 
made  the  crooks  help  them.  They  almost  always  do. 
Seymour,  the  detective,  hunted  upRedney,  the  bunko 
man.  "Redney,"  said  the  detective,  "I  want  to  get 
onto  this  Weeks  job. "  "Couse  yer  do,"  said  Redney  ; 
"but  I  dunno  narthin'  about  it.  I  ain't  givin'  yer  no 
larry  now.  I  ain't  heard  narthin'  only  what  I  make 
gal  read  ter  me  every  mornin'. " 


The  Criminal  Class.  517 


"I  know  that,  Eedney,"  says  the  man  of  the  law; 
"but  if  you  get  a  tip  let's  have  it,  old  man ;  what 
d'ye  say?  Will  yer?"  Redney  says  he  will,  and  so 
does  every  crook  the  detective  has  such  a  conversation 
with,  which  is  about  every  one  he  meets.  While  this 
was  going  on  other  distinguished  crooks  were  being 
tapped  on  the  shoulder  and  bidden  to  "  be  at  the  cen- 
tral office  to-morrow.  The  super  wants  to  see  you"; 
or,  "  the  inspector  wants  you. "  They  came  in  every 
instance,  knowing  that  they  must.  They  were 
politely  questioned.  It  was  interesting ;  it  always  is 
interesting  to  see  how  differently  different  ones 
behaved. 

Some  burglars  and  sneaks  and  forgers  consider  it  a 
great  honor  to  be  in  demand  in  this  way.  It  flatters 
their  vanity  to  be  called  on  and  to  find  themselves 
in  an  easy  chat  with  authority  clothed  in  blue  and 
starred  with  gold.  They  become  as  loquacious  as 
women.  Others  are  sullen  and  defiant.  They  want 
nothing  to  do  with  authority.  They  consider  them- 
selves abused.  These  last  are  in  the  minority,  how- 
ever, and  it  has  been  found  that  both  sorts  will  tell 
the  truth  if  it  will  help  them  or  if  they  are  not  in- 
terested in  the  case.  A  scrutiny  of  all  the  fences 
and  pawnbrokers  ends  the  sifting.  There  were  many 
burglaries  in  Brooklyn  of  the  same  sort  as  the  Weeks 
case ;  where  did  the  stuff  go  ?  None  was  found,  but 
if  any  had  been  who  brought  it  ?  A  fence  had  better 
not  lie  and  be  caught  at  it.  A  pawnbroker  has  no 
need  to  do  so.  In  the  Weeks  case  the  general  spad- 
ing over  of  the  crooks  did  not  turn  over  the 
murderer.    Three  lodging-house  rounders  or  loafers 


518 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


were  caught  in  a  New  Jersey  burglary,  and  two  of 
tliem  united  in  declaring  that  the  third  was  guilty  of 
the  Weeks  murder.  So  what  hard  work  failed  at 
chance  brought  about.  But  the  sifting  process  is  a 
good  one.  The  police  learn  more  each  time  it  is  done. 
They  turn  up  new  criminals  and  get  new  knowledge 
concerning  old  ones.  They  thus  study  their  prey  as 
a  good  hunter  or  fisherman  does.  This  plan  more 
than  takes  the  place  of  the  apocryphal  genius  of  the 
one  Vidocq  of  a  century. 

"There  is  absolutely  no  such  a  thing  as  honor 
among  thieves,"  said  SujDerintendent  Murray;  "that 
is  the  veriest  humbug.  We  find  that  under  many 
combinations  of  circumstances  they  can  be  got  to  be- 
tray one  another.  We  Avork  upon  the  knowledge  of 
their  baseness  and  seldom  are  disappointed.  If  a 
crook  can  save  himself  by  peaching  on  his  pals,  or  if 
he  fears  a  comrade  may  be  about  to  betray  him,  or  if 
it  will  be  of  service  to  him  to  expose  others  he  will 
always  do  it.  One  other  great  source  of  weakness 
among  criminals  comes  of  their  relations  with  women. 
Some  of  the  loot  they  get  is  pretty  certain  to  be 
given  to  a  woman,  and  with  her  it  remains,  and  we 
find  it  and  turn  it  to  evidence  asrainst  the  man.  This 

o 

is  particularly  the  case  with  young  criminals. " 
THTEVma  NIGHT  cabihen. 

Some  of  the  most  audacious  night  thieves  of  New 
York  are  cabmen.  They  are  called  buckers.  A  few 
own  their  own  rigs,  but  most  of  them  hire  from  small 
stables  at  about  $8.50  a  night.  The  bucker  usually 
counts  upon  getting  the  price  of  the  rig  out  of  tlie 


The  Criminal  Class. 


519 


first  passenger,  and  all  lie  gets  after  that  is  a  profit. 
So  a  niaH  wants  to  look  out  and  not  be  the  first  fare 
in  a  night  cab. 

"Some  backers  have  a  pal  who  pretends  to  be  a 
passenger,"  said  a  cabman,  "and  gets  in  wdth  a  real 
passenger  that's  pretty  full.  If  the  passenger  loses 
anything  on  the  trip  of  course  it  was  the  stranger 
that  went  through  him,  and  he's  got  out  and  skipped. 
The  cabman  is  sorry  and  wishes  he  knew  the  other 
chap,  but  he  s'posed  he  was  the  passenger's  friend. 
They  can't  play  that  on  the  New  Yorkers  much, 
-though.  It's  countrymen  and  fellers  from  Hoboken 
that  gets  into  them  snaps.  The  New  Yorker  who's 
been  round  don't  hire  buckers  very  often,  but  when 
he  does  he  makes  a  bargain  at  the  start  and  looks  at 
the  number. 

"Just  to  show  you  how  it  works.  The  other  night 
one  of  the  fellers  was  standing  around  the  corner 
when  three  men  came  along,  and  two  of  them  put 
the  other  in  a  cab  and  told  Johnny  to  drive  him  to  a 
house  up  town.  Then  they  lit  out.  Johnny  looked 
inside  and  saw  the  gentleman  was  full  as  a  goat,  and 
that  his  watch  was  gone  and  the  broken  chain  hang- 
ing out  of  his  pocket.  Says  Johnny  to  himself,  says 
he,  Tf  I  take  this  stiff  home  and  he  gets  on  that  he's 
been  robbed  he'll  lay  it  to  me  and  I'll  do  time  sure. 
So  he  ups  and  calls  a  copper  and  says  he  won't  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  job.  The  copper  goes  through 
the  drunk  gentleman  and  finds  he's  broke,  and  then 
he  yanks  him  out  of  the  cab  and  takes  him  into  some 
place,  and  says  to  Johnny,  says  he,  ^you're  honest, 
young  feller.'    That's  the  w^ay  Johnny  tells  it,  and  he 


520  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


oughter  know,  hadn't  he  ?  Course  he  had.  Johnny 
wouldn't  collar  the  boodle  himself  and  then  call  a 
copper  and  give  him  a  fill  about  the  two  fellers  as 
skipped.    See  ? 

"There's  a  chap  on  the  other  corner  who  could  tell 
a  queer  story  if  he  wanted  to,  but  it's  no  use  for  any 
stranger  to  ask  him.    He  got  a  call  one  night  andl 
went  up  to  a  fine  house  on  Murray  Hill.    A  tall  man, 
with  grayish  hair  and  mustache,  came  out  and  asked 
him  how  much  he  would  take  to  hold  his  tongue. 
He  was  pretty  fly,  and  said  he  thought  $25  would 
about  keep  him  quiet  on  a  racket.   The  tall  man  put 
up  the  sugar  without  a  kick,  and  told  him  to  wait  and 
give  a  whistle  when  nobody  was  in  sight.    He  saw  a 
light  upstairs,  and  when  the  door  was  opened  for  a 
minute  he  heard  a  woman  crying  and  somebody  tell- ! 
ing  her  to  keep  quiet.    When  he  whistled,  the  door 
opened  quickly  and  the  tall  man  and  another  man, 
who  seemed  excited  and  nervous,  came  out,  carrying  j 
a  third  man  wrapped  up  in  a  blanket.   They  put  the 
third  man  in  the  cab,  and  the  tall  man  got  in 
with  him.    The  other  man,  who  seemed  to  live  in  the 
house,  whispered  a  moment  with  the  tall  chap,  who 
spoke  sharp  and  decided,  and  then  hurried  back  into 
the  house.    The  cabman  drove  to  a  certain  hotel, 
where  he  helped  carry  the  chap,  who  seemed  sick  or 
drunk,  up  to  a  small  room,  and  then  went  away.  Per-  \ 
haps  you  remember  the  case  of  a  man  who  was  found 
in  a  room  at  a  hotel  with  a  bullet  in  his  back  and  a  ) 
pistol  in  his  hand,  and  nobody  could  get  a  word  out  < 
of  him  except  a  tall  detective,  who  said  he'd  been 
hired  to  take  care  of  him.    Well,  it  isn't  a  cabman's 


The  Criminal  Class. 


521 


•   business  to  give  anything  away,  and  I  ain't  saying  a 

1   word,  am  I  ? 

"A  man  I  used  to  drive  with  had  a  worse  job  than 

j  that  one  night.  He  got  a  call  from  a  messenger  to  go 
to  the  house  where  a  handsome  actress  lived,  and 
when  he  got  there  her  brother  and  somebody  else 
brought  out  a  gentleman  they  said  wasn't  feeling  very 
well  and  put  into  a  cab.  My  chum  thought  it  was  a 
case  of  drunk  and  said  nothing,  but  drove  to  the  house 
where  he  was  told  to  leave  the  gentleman.  When  he 
and  his  partner  got  there  and  tried  to  wake  the  party 
up,  they  found  he  was  dead,  and  you  bet  he  was 

j   scared.    They  just  took  him  out  and  laid  him  in  the 
vestibule,  and  you  bet  they  didn't  ring  no  bell.  They 
just  got  away  as  fast  as  the  old  plug  would  carry 
'em.    The  next  day  the  papers  told  how  Mr.  Ray- 
'mond,  the  editor  of  the  New  York  Times^  died  of 

!   heart  disease  at  his  own  door,  and  was  found  there 

'  in  the  morning.  The  actress  in  whose  company  he 
expired  is  now  living,  and  well  known. 

IN  A  DEN  or  THIEVES. 

Some  of  the  New  York  fences  are  saloon  keepers. 
They  as  a  rule  do  a  thriving  business,  for  they  not 
only  purchase  the  plunder  of  their  customers,  but  re- 
ceive much  of  the  money  expended  for  "swag"  back 
again  over  the  bar  for  drinks.  Some  four  years  ago 
I  passed  a  couple  of  hours  in  one  of  these  resorts.  It 
was  a  rainy  night  and  I  had  attended  the  theatre 
with  a  prominent  criminal  lawyer. 

"If  you  have  an  hour  to  spare,  said  my  friend,  as 
we  stood  in  the  lobby,  come  with  me  and  aid  me  in 


522  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


looking  for  a  client,  but  don't  ask  any  question  or  b 
astonished  at  anything  you  see. " 

I  accompanied  the  attorney  in  his  search  for  i 
client.    We  looked  for  him  in  a  gin  mill  in  a  Hous 
ton  street  basement,  where  a  gentleman  with  a  char 
delier  pin  in  his  immaculate  shirt  front,  and  a  bullei 
hole  in  his  cheek,  handled  the  decanters  as  if  they  <ft 
were  Indian  clubs.    We  didn't  find  him,  but  a  young 
woman  in  black  velvet,  who  was  getting  drunk  on 
gin  all  by  herself  called  the  counsellor  by  name  and 
invited  us  to  wait  and  have  a  drink  with  her. 

"Bring  the  lush  into  the  back  room,  Mike,"  she 
commanded;  "and  take  it  out  of  this." 

And  she  produced  a  dainty  little  watch^  gay  with 
jewels,  from  her  pocket,  where  she  had  been  carry- 
ing it  among  a  lot  of  small  change. 

Mike  took  it  in  the  matter-of-fact  way  of  a  man  to 
whom  such  transactions  were  no  novelty,  asking,  as 
he  sized  it  up: 

"Is  that  all  you  caught  to-day,  Jess?" 

^'Every  devilish  grain."  • 

"It  stands  good  for  a  tenner." 

"It  stands  good  for  a  twenty." 

"Why  don't  you  call  it  a  hundred?" 

"Because  I  know  I  won't  get  it.    Twenty's  the 
scratch." 

"I'll  make  it  fifteen." 

"Will  you  throw  the  cigars  in?" 

"I  don't  mind." 

Upon  this  basis  the  bargain  was  concluded  and  we 
pre-empted  a  table  in  the  back  room,  where  a  door 
with  heavy  bolts  and  chains  gave  entrance  on  a  yard, 


The  Criminal  Class. 


523 


and  there  were  curious  instruments  of  steel  which 
glittered  bluely  in  the  gaslight  on  the  wall. 

"Times  are  infernally  quiet  now,"  our  hostess  re- 
marked as  we  glanced  around  the  room. 

"Why  so?" 

"All  the  tools  are  in." 

We  made  no  more  inquiries,  but  through  every 
variation  of  the  evening  the  blue  glitter  of  the  tools 
upon  the  wall  persisted  in  flashing,  till  it  was  almost 

I  impossible  to  resist  the  fascination  of  grabbing  an 
armfull  and  going  off  to  open  a  bank  or  crack  some 
brown-stone  front  with  a  fat  plate  chest,  and  a  jewel 
case  in  the  perfumed  boudoir  where  a  pretty  woman 

I  buried  her  face  in  a  silken  pillow  and  the  low  light 
gloated  upon  a  bewildering  beauty  to  whose  pleasant 
dreams  no  consciousness  of  rude  eyes  brought  embar- 

I  rassment. 

But  we  did  resist  it,  and  devoted  ourselves  to  Jess, 
the  cigars  and  the  drink,  which  was  good.  It  was 
gin,  which  she  called  "white  velvet,"  and  poured 
down  in  the  intervals  between  pufEs  as  if  she  liked 
it.  "I  always  drink  it  when  I  am  on  a  racket,"  she 
explained;  "but  I  never  get  on  a  racket  except  when 
business  is  dull,  and  when  I'm  hard  up  beer  ain't 
good  enough  for  me." 

We  did  not  long  remain  the  only  tenants  of  the 
back  room.  People  began  to  drift  in,  singly  and  in 
couples.  Young  fellows,  well-dressed  and  prosperous 
looking,  with  keen  eyes  and  slender  hands,  and  jaunty 
young  women,  radiating  fashion  and  perfume  every 
time  they  moved  or  raised  a  glass.  They  eyed  us 
suspiciously,  but  our  legal  friend  was  on  the  best  of 


524 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


terms  with  all  of  them,  and  his  endorsement  passed 
for  good.    The  salutation  was  invariably: 

"Hello,  Jess!    Who's  in  a  hole  now?" 

"Nobody." 

"What's  the  counsellor  doing  here,  then?" 

"On  a  racket." 

"Then  let's  have  a  booze."  . 

From  time  to  time  a  new  comer  would  tumble  a 
handful  of  money — often  mixed  wifch  trinkets,  from 
watches  down  to  finger-rings,  and  purses  more  or  less 
filled — on  a  table.  Other  pockets  would  be  emptied 
in  the  same  way,  and  the  common  heap  then  divided 
up  among  the  members  of  that  special  party.  These 
parties  consist  of  from  two  to  six.  They  were  always 
of  an  even  number,  and  half  were  always  women. 
When  Sketchley,  a  young  friend  we  had  picked  up 
as  we  were  coming  down  town,  asked  Jess  what  they 
were  doing,  she  smiled  and  said: 

"Why,  divvying  the  boodle,  of  course.  Do  they 
look  as  if  they  were  playing  the  fiddle?" 

Sketchley  was  horrified,  and  whispered  to  the  coun- 
sellor : 

"Why,  I  believe  they  are  pickpockets  !" 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder, ''  was  the  cool  reply. 

At  the  next  table  they  stripped  some  pocketbooks 
and  added  a  couple  of  watches,  a  bracelet  and  one 
diamond  ear-ring  to  the  stock.  There  was  blood  on 
the  hook  of  the  ear-ring. 

"Where's  the  other?"  aslced  some  one. 

"  In  her  ear.  It's  a  wonder  I  got  this  one.  I  never 
saw  such  tough  flesh. " 

"  There's  a  fiver  out  of  this  pile  against  me,"  said  a 


The  Criminal  Class. 


525 


pretty  girl,  who  might  have  passed  for  a  Sunday 
school  teacher. 
"What  for?" 

"  I  staked  a  poor  tramp  with  a  black  eye  her  man 
had  given  her  and  two  kids  near  starved. " 

"  Oh,  well  !  We'll  let  it  go  with  the  pile.  Now, 
Mike,  what's  this  worth 

Mike  surveyed  the  trinkets  with  a  practical  eye. 
There  was  a  few  minutes'  haggling,  and  then  he  paid 
for  them  from  a  roll  as  big  as  a  baby's  head  which 
he  carried  in  his  hip  pocket,  as  if  to  tempt  the  pro- 
fessional instincts  of  his  customers.  Everything  was 
quiet,  business  like  and  regular,  from  the  sorting  of 
the  plunder  to  the  receiver  removing  his  purchases 
and  the  thieves  dividing  the  bank  notes.  Only  when 
it  had  concluded  did  the  relaxation  begin.  It  was 
pretty  well  under  way  when  the  outer  door  slammed 
violently.  In  a  minute  more  a  white-faced  girl,  with 
eyes  red  from  weeping  and  her  dress  disordered  and 
mud-be-smeared,  was  in  the  room. 

"  Why,  Carrie  !  What's  up  ?" 

"Jim 's  pinched  !" 

"Where?" 

"  He  was  working  the  lobby  of  the  Fifth  Avenue, 
and  "  • 

"  Now,  then,  don't  be  a  fool  !    She's  only  fainted. " 

And  Jess,  who  seemed  to  have  become  suddenly 
sober,  knelt  beside  the  fallen  figure.  The  other 
women  have  willing  hands.  The  men  looked  on  and 
smoked  and  talked. 

"It  ain't  much  loss.  He's  a  regular  gilly,  anyhow," 

"  Carrie's  better  off  without  him. " 


526 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


"  Slie  always  does  get  stuck  after  some  stiff  like 
that." 

"  Now,  then,  dear,  do  you  feel  better  ?  Take  a  sup 
of  this." 

In  ten  minutes  more  Carrie  was  propped  up  in  an 
arm-chair  drowning  lier  grief  in  brandy,  while  Jess 
had  resumed  her  interrupted  drunk. 

Another  arrival  !  or,  rather,  three — black  faces, 
which  were  hailed  with  a  shout : 

"  A  concert  !  Come  in,  boys,  and  get  to  work  !" 

In  a  minute  more  the  centre  of  the  room  was 
cleared.  The  leader  of  the  negroes,  a  stalwart,  rather 
good-looking  fellow,  sat  on  the  edge  of  the  table  and 
began  to  time  his  banjo. 

Do  your  best  now,  Weston.  Here's  the  counsellor 
and  some  friends  of  his.  Is  there  any  of  that  ticker 
left,  Mike?" 

"  It's  good  for  a  round  yet,  Jess." 

"  Start  it  then  and  give  the  colored  delegation  a 
wash. " 

Weston  formed  the  orchestra  and  sang  the  solo  of 
songs  whose  chorus  his  two  companions  raised.  Be- 
fore long  all  the  room  was  swelling  it.  These  social 
sharks,  hot  with  the  triumph  of  the  day's  forage, 
swollen  with  their  spoil,  chanted  sentimental  choruses 
and  listened  to  a  ruffianly  negro  with  a  voice  like  a 
bell  sing  songs  which  you  hear  in  the  moral  concert 
hall.  The  liquor  disappeared  in  deep  drams.  A  man 
came  in  with  Mike  and  leaned  against  the  door-post. 
A  sharp-eyed,  powerful  man,  with  a  certain  alert 
look  about  his  whole  .figure. 

He  watched  the  scene  with  his  hands  in  his  pock- 


The  Criminal  Class,  527 


ets  and  a  quiet  face,  nodding  to  one  or  two  people  in 
the  crowd." 

We're  having  a  heap  of  fun  here  to-night,"  he 
said. 

"  I  told  you  he  wasn't  here,"  said  Mike,  irrelevantly. 

"  And  now  I  know  it.  But  if  you  want  to  see  him 
to-morrow  drop  in  at  the  Tombs.    Good  night." 

"Who  the  blazes  is  Smith  after  now,"  demanded 
Jess,  who  was  one  of  the  few  the  stranger  had  saluted. 

"  Big  George.    It's  a  stabbing  match." 

"I  told  him  that  knife  of  his  would  get  him  in 
trouble  yet." 

Two  o'clock  was  striking,  and  Weston  was  singing 
"  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  in  whose  chorus  the  women 
were  joining  with  tearful  eyes  and  the  men  with 
husky  voices.  His  hat  on  the  table  beside  him  was 
half  full  of  money.  A  man  with  a  slouched  hat 
pulled  deep  over  his  eyes  and  his  overcoat  dripping, 
came  in. 

Did  you  see  Smith,  George  ?"  asked  Jess,  whom 
the  newcomer  treated  to  a  hearty  hug. 
"No.  Why?" 
"  He  wants  you." 
"What  for?" 

Jess  gave  the  air  a  stab  with  her  forefinger. 
"The  devil  !  I  didn't  think  that  fool  would  croak. 
He's  been  here,  you  say  V 
"Yes." 

"Then  I'd  better  stay,  for  he  won't  come  back. 
Weston,  give  us  the  ^  Sweet  By-and-By.'" 

The  hand  which  had  cut  the  thread  of  a  fellow 
creature's  life  tossed  a  half  dollar  into  the  hat.  In 


528 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


a  moment  more  the  voice  of  the  murderer  was  chant- 
ing the  famous  hymn,  whose  refrain  from  the  throats 
of  the  lawless  creatures  made  the  tools  on  the  walls 
jingle.  Jess,  who  ^vas  quite  maudlin  now,  was  sob- 
bing with  her  head  in  the  gin  drippings  on  the  table. 

Mike  said  good  night  at  the  door.  "Look  in  onus 
again,  gentlemen;  we'll  try  to  make  things  pleasant 
for  you. "  Smith  must  have  made  another  call  be- 
fore he  went  home,  for  next  day  Big  George  was 
committed  to  the  Tombs  to  await  trial  for  murder. 

HARD  WORK  TO  REFORM. 

It  is  a  difficult  matter  for  an  ex-convict  to  reform 
and  become  a  respectable  member  of  society.  Where 
many  attempt  to  do  so  only  a  few  succeed.  During 
the  month  of  April  of  the  present  year  (1887),  John 
Ryan,  an  ex-convict  from  New  York,  was  arrested  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  as  a  suspected  felon.  In  his  posses- 
sion was  found  a  burglar's  kit.  When  arraigned 
before  the  magistrate  Ryan  said : 

"No  man  who  has  once  been  convicted,  as  I  have 
been,  can  reform,  unless  under  unusual  circumstances. 
Though  I  am  a  fine  mechanic,  in  whatever  city  I  turn 
to  I  am  hounded  down,  and  either  arrested  or  driven 
away.  I  must  live  somewhere,  but  it  is  hard  to  do 
so  and  be  honest,  although  I  have  tried  ever  so 
hard." 

This  statement  of  Ryan's  set  the  writer  to  wonder- 
ing if  the  case  had  been  truly  presented.  With  this 
object  in  view  a  visit  was  paid  to  room  65,  in  the 
Bible  House,  where  he  found  Mr.  W.  M.  F.  Round, 
the  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Prison  Associa- 


The  Criminal  Class.  529 


tion  of  New  York,  an  organization  that  for  forty 
years  has  disbursed  much  charity  and  goods,  but  no 
money,  to  the  released  prisoners  from  the  peniten- 
tiaries, the  Island,  Kings  County  Jail  and  others, 
Sing  Sing  excepted. 

"Is  it  hard  for  an  ex-convict  to  reform?"  said  Mr. 
Round,  "It  is  very  hard,  and  few  succeed.  Their  own 
depraved  natures  are  responsible  for  half  the  failure, 
of  course,  but  the  fact  that  they  have  been  in  prison, 
I  had  almost  said  in  every  instance,  makes  it  impos- 
sible for  them  to  get  work  where  it  is  known.  People 
simply  won't  believe  their  protestations  that  they  are 
trying  to  reform.  "Then  that  is  not  the  w^orst  fea- 
ture. They  may  leave  their  old  haunts  completely, 
but  they  find  wherever  they  go  that  the  police  have 
their  pictures  in  Byrnes'  book  or  in  the  Rogue's  Gal- 
lery ;  they  are  recognized,  policemen  tap  their 
shoulders  and  they  are  told  that  another  town  will 
be  more  healthy  for  them  ;  or  some  low-lived  fellows 
who  know  their  stories  levy  blackmail  on  them. 

"See  here."  He  turned  to  a  case.  "Here  in  the 
files  are  hundreds  of  letters  which  ex-convicts  have 
sent  me,  and  at  my  home  are  many  more.  They  all 
tell  such  stories. 

"To  be  sure,  about  nine-tenths  of  those  we  help,  as 
it  turns  out,  had  no  idea  of  reforming  or  failed  to 
make  a  sustained  effort;  but  of  the  other  tenth  I  can 
give  instances  by  the  hundred.  It  is  not  infrequent 
to  find  men  coming  out  of  prison  with  first  rate  inten- 
tions of  turning  to  an  honest  life.  As  we  watch 
them  we  see  a  depression  come  upon  their  moral  sys- 
tem, and  w^e  soon  can  tell  that  they  are  being  hounded. 


530  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 

It  is,  of  course,  necessary  that  lie  shall  be  known  to 
the  police,  who  have  to  keep  an  eye  on  him,  but  oc- 
casionally zeal  outbalances  discretion.  One  poor  fel- 
low tried  his  hand  at  several  things  after  he  came  out 
of  jail,  but  his  story  was  found  out  and  he  had  to 
leave  his  jobs.  Finally  he  took  a  tray  of  goods  and 
started  out  just  before  Christmas  to  peddle  in  the 
streets.  He  was  a  well  knoAvn  crook,  and  as  he  was 
peddling  on  Fourteenth  street  the  policeman  on  the 
beat  recognized  him  and  said: — 'I  know  you,  and  I 
w  on't  have  you  on  the  street  a  minute.'  It  was  about 
the  last  thing  he  could  do. 

'Then  there  are  the  'snide'  detectives,  who  levy 
blackmail  and  hound  a  man  to  death.  We  have  just 
about  stopped  that  now.  A  young  man,  entirely 
respectable,  son  of  a  physician,  was  given  five  years 
in  the  penitentiary  for  a  violent  assault.  It  was  his 
first  ofEeuce  and  almost  his  first  drinking  bout.  His 
family  had  disinherited  him.  They  cast  him  off,  not 
because  he  had  committed  the  assault,  but  because  he 
had  paid  for  it  in  prison  like  a  man.  When  he  came 
out  we  got  him  a  position  in  a  stable — it  was  all  he 
could  do.  He  did  first  rate.  After  awhile  he  began 
to  get  blue,  and  finally  he  said  to  me,  'It's  no  use;  I 
can't  live  on  what  I  am  getting,  and  I'll  have  to  give 
it  up.'  He  was  getting  $7  a  week.  After  reluctance 
he  told  me  that  a  young  fellow,  a  detective  he  had 
knowm,  met  him  one  day  and  said,  'Bob,  does  your 
employer  know  where  you've  been?  He  replied, 
'No;  if  he  did  he  w^ould  discharge  me.'  'Well,  I  am 
hard  up,'  said  the  friend,  'and  every  Saturday  night 
I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  lend  me  $3.    I'll  be  stand- 


The  Criminal  Class. 


531 


ing  just  around  the  corner  after  you  are  paid  off.' 
So  lie  kept  bleeding  him  $3  or  $5  every  week.  We 
made  him  refund  and  learned  that  he  had  some  time 
since  been  dismissed  from  the  detective  agency. 

"We  have  stopped  a  great  deal  of  blackmail.  Ex- 
convicts  who  would  reform,  change  their  names  and 
get  out  of  town  rarely  escape  it  then.  I  always  ad- 
vise a  man  not  to  do  that,  but  to  stick  to  his  old 
home  and  his  old  name  (often  forgotten  by  the  time 
he  is  released)  and  live  down  his  story  where  he 
made  it.  It  is  easier  to  do  it  there  than  elsewhere, 
but  it  takes  courage  and  nerve  anyway — a  great  deal 
of  it. 

"One  fellow  has  made  his  reform  a  telling  one  in 
an  unusual  way.  He  is  one  of  the  most  notorious 
crooks  in  the  country.  Inspector  Byrnes  has  his  pic- 
ture in  his  book.  The  Inspector  said  to  me  a  few 
days  ago:  There's  a  man  of  whom  I  have  heard 
nothing  since  1879,  but  I  expect  he  will  turn  up  at 
his  old  tricks  in  some  part  of  the  country  every  day." 
I  happened  to  know  that  he  would  not ;  that  his  reform 
was  sincere,  and  that  he  had  taken  a  life  vow  in  the 
Francis  canorder  of  monks.  He  is  safe  there.  "Byrnes' 
book  is  a  most  excellent  one,  with  exceptionally  good 
portraits  and  invaluable  in  proper  hands.  It  ought 
to  be  restricted  to  the  ownership  of  police  authori- 
ties, bankers,  jewelers,  hotels  and  the  like,  who  are 
in  imminent  danger  of  being  victimized  daily ;  but 
in  the  possession  of  others  it  will  take  the  life  out  of 
poor  fellows  who  would  reform. " 

"It  is  not  so  difficult,"  said  acting  Secretary  Kim- 
ball, of  the  association,  for  a  man  who  is  a  mechanic 


532  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


to  get  work  as  for  a  clerk  or  bookkeeper,  and  if  the 
latter  will  do  manual  labor  he  can  generally  get  a 
place.  Two  or  three  ex-burglars  are  now  doing  first- 
rate  work  in  machine  shops  in  this  city.  We  have 
nothing  to  do  with  labor  unions ;  they  hinder  us. 
Many  a  man  has  come  to  us  from  a  job  we  found  for 
him  and  told  us  that  he  had  got  to  leave  it  because 
he  was  not  a  union  man.  ^  Why  don't  you  join  the 
union  ? '  was  asked  him.  He  said  he  could  not,  be- 
cause of  his  history.  So  the  man  that  reforms  has 
only  the  non-union  shops  open  to  him.  Here's  a  let- 
ter we  have  just  received  from  a  well-known  crook 
now  in  this  city,  who  for  a  month  has  been  doing  his 
best  to  get  on  his  feet  as  an  honest  man  with  an 
honest  job." 

"It  is  a  mighty  struggle,  pulling  through  the 
breakers,  and  I  am  being  tested  in  a  most  thorough 
manner.  God  help  me  and  grant  that  the  end  of  this 
will  prove  that  I  can  be  as  strong  in  the  right  as  I 
have  been  in  the  wrong. " 

If  a  man  wanted  to  reform  he  would  not  travel 
about  the  country  with  a  *  kit '  of  burglars'  tools  in 
his  possession,"  said  Inspector  Byrnes,  when  asked 
about  John  Ryan's  complaint  of  being  hounded  by 
detectives.  "  The  fellow  is  a  confirmed  rogue,  and 
while  he  was  in  this  city  he  made  no  attempt  to  mend 
his  ways.  I  see  he  is  now  endeavoring  to  hoodwink 
the  Louisville  (Ky.)  authorities  and  wriggle  out  of  a 
bad  scrape.  He  is  a  glib  tongued  fellow  and  may 
evade  punishment  for  carrying  burglars'  tools.  Pro- 
fessional thieves,  in  my  opinion,  deserve  watching, 
and  no  attention  should  be  paid  to  stories  told  by 
rogues." 


The  Criminal  Class. 


533 


"  Inspector,  are  thieves  after  coming  out  of  prison 
hounded  by  detectives  V 

"  No,  they  are  not.  When  a  noted  criminal  comes 
out  of  prison,  however,  he  is  secretly  watched  to  see 
what  connections  he  will  make.  If  he  wants  to  re- 
form he  can  do  so,  but  they  never  do.  It  is  quite 
natural  to  suppose  that  the  first  thing  a  man  will  do 
after  leaving  prison,  would  be  to  abandon  his  former 
haunts  and  everything  in  connection  with  it.  It  is  a 
singular  fact  that  if  he  proposed  to  reform  he  should 
leave  the  city  fully  equipped  for  his  old  trade.  Few 
genuine  cases  of  reformation  among  criminals  have 
come  to  my  notice.  But  there  are  instances  where 
men  have  shown  a  disposition  to  reform,  and  finding 
them  sincere  we  have  erased  their  names  fi'om  the 
books,  removed  their  photographs  from  the  gal- 
lery, found  them  work  and  otherwise  assisted  them 
along. " 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


BOODLE  ALDERMEN. 

THE  DISGRACEFUL  SALE  OP  BROADWAY  TO  A  STREET  CAR  CORPORATION 
BY  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  —  A  PART  OP  THE  BRIBE-TAKERS  IN  THE 
PENITENTIARY  AND  THE  REMAINDER  IN  CANADA — WAITE's  CASE. 

NO  offence  ever  committed  in  this  city  of  New 
York  or,  indeed,  in  any  other  city  of  the 
world,  has  been  characterized  by  so  many  extraordi- 
nary circumstances,  as  the  sale  of  the  franchise  to 
lay  rails  and  run  cars  on  Broadway.  When  the  bare- 
facedness  of  the  gift  of  vast  value  is  considered,  the 
number  of  criminals  engaged  in  it,  and  the  fact  that 
it  was  not  a  confederation  of  safe-robbers,  coiners,  or 
common  forgers  that  was  engaged  in  its  consumma- 
tion, but  on  the  contrary  nearly  every  member  of  the 
Common  Council  of  the  greatest  city  in  the  new  world 
were  united  in  this  "deal"  to  make  it  the  monumental 
"steal"  of  this  or  any  other  age,  the  thoughtful  mind 
is  lost  in  astonishment  that  natural  scoundrels  should 
be  "  selected  "  to  fill  public  offices  where  great  trust  is 
expected  and  integrity  demanded.  As  if  to  redeem 
human  nature,  amid  the  faithless,  two  honorable  ex- 
ceptions were  found.  Hugh  J.  Grant  and  Alderman 
O'Connor,  kept  their  hands  unsullied,  and  resisted  all 
the  blandishments  of  their  fellow  aldermen  and  the 
seductive  arguments  of  piles  of  thousand  dollar  bills. 


I 

I 
I 

I 


Boodle  Aldermen. 


535 


!   And  wherever  the  story  of  this  saturnalia  of  bribery 
and  official  corruption  is  told,  the  names  of  these  two 
faithful  "x^bdiel's"  should  figure  in  the  narration. 
The  trial  of  Alderman  Henry  W.  Jaehne  for  ac- 
j  cepting  a  personal  bribe  of  some  $20,000  to  vote  to 
Jake  Sharp  and  others  the  privilege  of  laying  rails 
in  Broadway  from  the  Battery  to  Union  Square, 
although  Mayor  Grace  had,  in  a  veto  message,  ac- 
quainted the  Board  of  Aldermen  with  the  fact  that 
responsible  parties  had  oifered  the  city  a  bonus  of 
$1,000,000  for  that  privilege,  opened  the  ball.  Jaehne 
I  was  the  first  of  the  accused  brought  to  justice.  The 
I  trial  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  week,  ending 
I  May  16,  1886.    The  presiding  judge,  Barrett,  pressed 
forward  the  trial  with  all  possible  speed,  consistent 
with  giving  the  prisoner  every  opportunity  to  cross- 
examine  witnesses  and  make  exceptions.    There  were 
many  dramatic  situations  evolved  in  the  course  of  the 
trial,  particularly  during  the  examination  of  Jaehne 
as  a  witness  in  his  own  defense.    He  was  defended 
by  an  array  of  brilliant  counsel,  among  them  Roger 
I  A.  Prior  and  John  Graham — the  latter  unquestion- 
*  ably  one  of  the  first  criminal  lawyers  in  the  city- — but 
the  direct  testimony  of  Inspector  Byrnes  and  his  two 
detectives  was  so  strongly  backed  and  fortified  by  the 
j  ingeniously  dovetailed  circumstantial  evidence  that 
all  the  sophistry  and  eloquence  of  his  counsel  failed 
to  convince  a  jury  of  more  than  usual  respectability 
and  intelligence  that  the  accused  alderman  was  not 
guilty  of  the  crime  laid  to  his  charge.    After  the 
evidence  was  all  in,  and  the  harangues  of  the  lawyers 
for  the  prosecution  and  the  defence  had  been  all 


536  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


listened  to,  Judge  Ban^ett,  with  an  earnestness  and 
impressiveness  demanded  by  the  gravity  of  the  oc 
casion,  proceeded  to  charge  the  jury.  After  sum- 
marizing the  evidence  as  to  the  Mayor's  vetoes,  the 
injunction  overriding  them,  the  Lyddy  $12,500  pay- 
ment, and  the  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
on  August  29  and  30,  his  Honor  said  :  "It  is  for  you 
to  say  if  this  is  not  circumstantial  evidence  of  the 
guilt  of  the  defendant  when  added  to  the  confession, 
or  only  an  evidence  of  his  zeal  for  the  public  good 
and  a  desire  to  do  his  duty  promptly.  You  are  the 
judges  of  the  facts,  and  must  decide  where  the  facts 
point.  That  is  the  case,  and  on  that  case  you  are  to 
say  whether  you  believe  the  defendant  guilty  or 
innocent. "  At  ten  minutes  to  one  o'clock  on  Sunday 
morning  the  jury  came  into  court  with  a  verdict  of 
guilty.  A  few  days  afterwards  Jaehne  was  sentenced 
to  Sing  Sing  for  a  term  of  years. 

FLIGHT  OF  THE  BRIBE  TAKERS. 

The  sentence  of  Jaehne  was  a  veritable  bomb-shell 
in  the  camp  of  the  boodlers.  They  realized  that  there 
was  something  of  the  nature  of  justice  still  in  ex- 
istence on  Manhattan  Island.  A  dozen  of  the  ex- 
aldermen  who,  during  their  official  terms  had  flirted 
with  Sharp  and  Richmond  until  they  received  from 
$12,000  to  $20,000  each,  became  alarmed.  To  add 
to  their  discomfiture  all  were  indicted,  and  one  of 
their  number,  Ex-Alderman  Waite,  turned  State's 
evidence.  As  fast  as  a  man  would  be  arrested  he 
would  give  bonds  for  his  appearance  when  his  case 
was  called,  and  then  seek    hospitable  Canada  or 


Boodle  Aldermen. 


537 


Europe.  Those  who  were  unable  to  give  bonds  were 
thrown  into  jail,  and  from  time  to  time  their  cases 
came  to  trial.  Two  were  sent  to  Sing  Sing  to  keep 
Jaehne  company,  and  the  remaining  cases  are  still  on. 
When  the  city  gets  through  with  its  dishonest 
boodlers,  it  hopes  to  be  able  to  punish  the  men  who 
corrupted  them.  The  cases  will  not  be  concluded  for 
some  months  to  come. 

One  of  the  saddest  features  of  the  investigation 
was  the  case  of  informer  Waite,  as  revealed  stage  by 
stage.  Three  years  ago  Waite  was  one  of  the  most 
popular  men  in  New  York.  He  had  for  years  been 
in  the  hotel  business.  The  Brevoort  House  made 
him  a  fortune  and  a  larg-e  and  influential  circle  of 
acquaintance.  In  what  may  justly  be  termed  an  evil 
hour  he  entered  politics.  He  was  elected  alderman. 
His  successful  debut  seemed  to  change  the  entire 
tenor  of  his  life.  He  plunged  into  dissipation  and 
neglected  business  for  profligate  pleasure.  He  be- 
came the  constant  associate  of  disreputable  wire 
pullers  and  ward  workers,  and  fell  into  the  clutches 
of  noted  blackmailers  of  the  feminine  gender.  If  he 
ever  sought  to  break  the  meshes  of  the  net  which 
surrounded  him  his  effort  was  so  weak  and  secret 
that  it  never  became  known.  His  descent  was  terrific. 
He  took  to  the  stock  market  hoping  to  recoup  his 
well  nigh  exhausted  fortune.  Every  purchase,  eveiy 
venture  in  Wall  street,  was  the  same  old  story.  Fate 
seemed  against  Waite.  His  creditors  from  banker  to 
butcher  were  clamoring,  and  he  was  on  the  verge  of 
ruin.  It  was  at  this  period  that  he  fell  an  easy  vic- 
tim to  the  wiles  of  the  men  who  stole  Broadway 


538 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


from  the  city.  But  the  bribe  he  received  did  not  tend 
to  lighten  his  burdens.  If  anything  it  increased 
them  and  he  went  to  the  wall.  Then  when  the  story 
of  his  connection  with  the  steal  came  out  he  sought 
immunity  by  turning  traitor.  His  confession  served 
slightly  to  hasten  the  end.  New  arrests  were  made 
and  additional  evidence  secured.  Waite  is  now  a 
penniless,  homeless  wreck.  When  last  heard  from 
he  was  wandering  through  New  England  little  better 
than  a  tramp. 

THE  BOODLER  COLONY  IN  CANADA. 

A  Montreal  dispatch  under  date  of  April  21,  1887, 
has  the  following  to  say  of  the  New  York  boodlers 
in  forced  retirement  there  :  "The  boodle  colony  here 
has  been  reinforced  by  the  distinguished  presence  of 
ex  Aid.  "Sol"  Sayles  of  New  York  city,  whose  sudden 
flight  to  Europe  after  the  Broadway  scandal  was  un- 
earthed will  be  remembered.  Sayles  arrived  here  a 
few  days  ago,  and  unlike  his  brother  boodlers,  Keenan, 
Dempsey,  and  DeLacy,  who  luxuriate  at  the  Windsor 
to  the  tune  of  $5  a  day,  has  taken  up  modest  quarters 
at  the  Richelieu  hotel,  away  among  the  French  peo- 
ple in  the  east  end,  where  he  is  known  and  registered 
as  Edward  Kelly,  Detroit.  Sayles  has  come  to 
Montreal  to  stay,  and  he  and  Dempsey  are  now  nego- 
tiating to  purchase  the  "Niche,"  a  famous  restaurant 
and  resort  of  crooks,  gamblers,  and  ward  politicians. 
The  present  proprietor,  Joe  Racine,  is  a  fugitive  from 
justice,  being  mixed  up  in  a  big  counterfeiting  deal, 
and  is  living  in  Paris.  The  boodlers  have  offered 
$5,000  for  the  good-will  and  fixtures,  which,  it  is  said, 
Mrs.  Racine  is  willing  to  accept.  Should  the  ex-alder- 


Boodle  Aldermen. 


539 


men  get  possession,  it  is  said,  they  intend  running  a 
faro  bank,  and  converting  the  Niche  into  a  swell 
gambling  hell. 

Sayles,  since  his  advent  here,  has  been  drinking 
J  and  gambling  heavily,  and  it  is  an  open  secret  that 
his  boodle  is  almost  exhausted.  Dempsey  has  been 
borrowing  money  from  brokers  and  shavers  on  the 
local  Wall  street  here  on  notes  indorsed  by  Keenan, 
and  so  has  Moloney.  Keenan,  however,  has  put  his 
foot  down  upon  any  more  advances,  and  has  told  the 
boys  they  must  get  out  and  work,  as  there  is  no  pros- 
pect of  their  being  able  to  return  to  New  York. 
Moloney,  who  is  staying  at  the  St.  Lawrence  hall,  re- 
cently allowed  his  bill  to  run  up  to  $900.  Hogan, 
the  proprietor,  told  him  he  must  pay  up  or  "git." 
Moloney  pleaded  for  time.  Mine  host  was  inexorable, 
and  gave,  him  three  days  to  settle  the  bill.  Keenan 
refused  him  the  money  and  ultimately  a  check  from 
New  York  was  received  for  the  amount,  signed,  it  is 
said,  by  a  crony  of  Jake  Sharp. 

All  the  boodlers  excepting  Keenan  are  hard  up, 
and  unless  something  turns  up  there's  going  to  be 
trouble.  Moloney  evidently  realizes  the  gravity  of 
the  situation,  and  instead  of  Pommery  Sec.  he  now 
only  indulges  in  soda  and  whisky.  His  cigar  bills, 
which  used  to  run  up  to  $18  a  month,  don't  exceed 
$5,  and  he  is  curtailing  in  all  directions.  Mrs.  Moloney, 
who  Avas  on  here  a  few  days  ago,  said  she  intended 
purchasing  a  business  for  her  boys  in  Montreal,  and 
in  fact  made  an  offer  for  the  cigar  stand  at  the  St. 
Lawrence  hall. 

Moloney  says  he  intends  leaving  Montreal  shortly 


540  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


and  will  probably  visit  Europe  during  the  course  of 
next  month.  Keenan  has  leased  a  cottage  at  St. 
Ann's,  a  fashionable  summer  resort  near  the  city. 

Another  notorious  scoundrel  from  New  York  has 
turned  up  here  and  is  leading  a  most  dissipated  life. 
Leonard  Levy  is  the  person  referred  to.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  Levy,  who  was  a  large  wholesale 
haberdasher  in  New  York,  suddenly  decamped  after 
laying  hands  upon  everything  he  could  turn  into 
cash.  He  sailed  to  Europe  with  his  family,  and  it 
was  intimated  that  the  boodle  he  secured  amounted 
at  least  to  $40,000.  After  a  year  Levy  has  ap- 
parently deserted  his  family,  as  he  arrived  here  by 
himself,  and  is  drinking  and  dissipating.  He  passes 
his  days  at  Drum's  bucket-shop  on  St.  Francis  Xavier 
street,  where  he  dropped  $4,000  in  a  couple  of  days. 
In  the  evening  he  plays  faro  at  Maloney's  on  Craig 
street,  and  is  often  seen  in  a  private  box  at  the  Theatre 
Eoyal  with  a  notorious  courtesan.  The  fellow,  in 
fact,  is  behaving  with  the  most  shameless  effrontery, 
and  is  squandering  his  creditors'  money  right  and 
left. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


DISHONEST  DEVICES. 

GIFT  SWINDLES  AND  LOTTEKY  ENTERPRISES  OF  THE  METROPOLIS — 
THEIR  EXTENT  AND  PLANS  OF  OPERATION — THE  PRIZE  TICKET,  CIR- 
CULAR AND  MEDICAL  SCHEMES — SOME  SAMPLE  LETTERS. 

THE  most  pronounced  swindles  of  tlie  age  are 
to  be  found  in  this  city.  Their  number  is 
almost  without  end,  and  their  especial  line  smacks 
of  everything  from  a  patent  right  down  to  a  sure 
care  for  consumption.  Concerns  bearing  high-sounding 
titles  with  the  impressive  ''limited,"  attached  spring 
up  like  mushrooms  in  a  night.  A  large  staff  of 
postoffice  inspectors  are  kept  busy  pursuing  these 
will-o' the- wisp  institutions.  They  are  all  made  out 
of  the  same  cloth,  from  J.  M.  Pattee,  of  Wyoming 
lottery  fame,  to  the  latest  long-titled  Southern  Coloni- 
zation Association.  There  are  something  over  twelve 
hundred  swindling  establishments  in  New  York. 
Three-iifths  of  this  number  attempt  for  appearances' 
sake  to  come  within  proscribed  bounds,  and  by  so 
doing  keep  out  of  the  clutches  of  the  law.  They 
advertise  an  article,  and  in  answer  to  customers  who 
forward  the  price  of  same,  send  a  practically  worth- 
less, cheap  John  affair,  pocketing  the  difference.  The 
remaining  two-fifths  gull  wherever  they  may  and 
surrender  nothing  in  return.    The  gift  schemes  are  a 


542 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


caution.  There  are  about  twenty -five  heavy  concerns, 
whicli  do  the  principal  business.  These  change  their 
location  and  their  names  often.  By  a  flourishing 
concern,  the  number  of  letters  received  daily  is  from 
two  hundred  to  five  hundred.  These  letters  come 
mainly  from  the  country, — many  from  the  West,  more 
from  the  South.  The  swindles  are  based  upon  some 
pretended  benevolent  scheme,  such  as  the  "Asylum 
for  Sick  and  Wounded  Soldiers;"  or,  "Union  Jew- 
elers' Society;"  or,  Sailors'  and  Soldiers'  home;" 
or,  "Orphans'  Institute."  Sometimes  these  con- 
cerns run  a  newspaper,  and  offer  a  gift  to  every 
subscriber.  The  "Dollar  Stores,"  with  a  prize  to  every 
purchaser,  belong  to  the  same  class  of  swindles. 
Thousands  of  letters  are  received  at  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  police  from  victims  asking  redress ;  send- 
ing for  the  prizes;  exposing  imposition;  pointing 
out  the  locality  where  the  swindlers  do  their  business, 
and  asking  the  police  to  break  up  the  den  of  sharp- 
ers. Why  the  police  do  not  do  it,  and  put  an  end  to 
this  robbery,  will  be  seen  in  another  place.  Three 
out  of  the  five  letters  received  at  the  police  head- 
quarters are  from  victims  who  have  been  swindled 
out  of  amounts  varying  from  ten  to  two  hundred 
dollars. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  season,  and  it  is  a  shoi't  one 
usually,  during  which  one  of  these  gift  enterprises 
runs,  from  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  half  a 
million  of  money  is  received.  There  is  scarcely  a 
city  or  town  in  the  Union  to  which  circulars  are  not 
sent,  and  from  which  victims  are  not  secured. 


Dishonest  Devices. 


543 


PLAN  OF  OPERATIOISr. 

From  some  den  in  the  city,  or  from  some  store 
fitted  up  for  tlie  occasion,  a  scheme  is  got  np  in  aid 
of  the  "Orphans'  Institute."  By  the  aid  of  direc- 
tories, postoffice  lists,  and  other  means,  the  names  of 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  persons  are  obtained  from 
all  parts  of  the  country.  Circulars  are  sent  to  each 
of  these  persons,  containing  a  list  of  prizes  to  be 
drawn,  the  numbers,  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  a 
lottery.  Each  party  is  made  an  agent.  Each  party 
is  guaranteed  a  prize.  Each  is  to  sell  tickets.  Each 
is  to  keep  quiet,  as  a  knowledge  of  the  promised 
prize  to  one  party  would  create  dissatisfaction  among 
the  rest.  But  in  every  case  ten  dollars  must  be 
mailed  before  the  prize  can  be  sent  on.  The  party  is 
enjoined  to  state  whether  the  prize  shall  be  sent  on 
in  a  draft  or  in  "greenbacks."  Ten  or  fifteen  days, 
at  the  most,  are  allowed,  to  respond,  as  the  prize  is 
supposed  to  be  worth  from  one  hundred  to  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  of  course  that  is  the  last  of  it.  As 
a  specimen  of  these  circulars,  the  minute  instructions 
in  regard  to  the  prizes,  sending  the  money,  etc.,  to 
prevent  the  party  from  coming  or  sending,  the  follow- 
ing circular,  received  by  the  authorities  from  a 
victim,  will  be  interesting: — 

Your  present  will  be  sent  promptly  in  ten  days  after  the  recep- 
tion of  the  percentage.  Don't  send  for  us  to  ship  your  present 
and  you  pay  on  delivery.  We  cannot  do  it,  as  we  should  have 
to  employ  more  help  than  you  would  want  to  pay,  and  thus 
lessen  the  profits  to  the  ticket  holders.  Also  avoid  sending  to 
your  friends  to  call  and  get  your  presents  ;  it  not  only  gives 
them  trouble,  but  it  is  a  great  annoyance;  they  are  always  sure 


644  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


to  call  when  w«  have  the  most  business  on  hand,  and  they  insist 
upon  being  waited  on  first,  &c.,  &c.  To  accommodate  them  we 
have  to  run  through  the  immense  amount  of  names,  and  many- 
times  we  have  two  of  the  same  name;  then  we  have  to  refer  to 
our  register  containing  the  name,  town,  and  state,  to  get  the  cor- 
rect one.  Then,  again,  if  you  send  by  them,  or  should  come 
yourself,  you  incur  expense,  for  you  know  what  you  have  drawn 
by  your  notice,  and  you  see  by  a  vote  of  your  committee  you 
cannot  collect  at  sight.  No  article  is  delivered  under  ten  days' 
notice,  so  you  or  your  friends  would  have  to  wait  ten  days  before 
being  able  to  obtain  what  is  against  your  name.  We  have  made 
this  rule  and  must  adhere  to  it,  for  those  that  send  us  their  per- 
centage we  feel  in  duty  bound  to  wait  on  first;  therefore  we 
ask,  as  a  great  personal  favor,  that  upon  the  receipt  of  your  notifi- 
cation, if  there  is  a  percentage  of  a  few  dollars  to  be  paid,  send 
it  by  mail,  then  you  will  not  only  have  done  us  a  great  favor  and 
saved  us  much  unnecessary  trouble,  but  you  will,  at  the  same 
time,  have  kept  the  matter  in  a  straight,  business-like  manner, 
so  that  it  will  avoid  all  mistakes  by  our  employees,  and  you  will 
be  sure  to  get  your  present  at  the  time  specified. 

Those  that  will  be  notified  that  they  have  drawn  presents 
valued  at  $10,  upwards  to  $25,  and  there  are  many,  they  have  no 
percentage.  We  have  passed  a  vote  not  to  deliver  any  article 
from  the  office,  but  must  in  all  cases  be  sent  by  mail  or  express 
at  their  expense,  from  the  fact  that  we  should  be  so  overrun  by 
those  living  near  that  we  should  have  to  neglect  our  friends  at  a 
distance,  so  remember  to  send  us  word  how  you  want  it  sent. 
Write  name  and  town  plainly,  so  any  one  that  reads  can  read 
and  have  no  mistake. 

Money  can  be  sent  at  our  risk  by  mail.  The  surest  way  is, 
put  your  money  in  a  letter  and  pay  twenty  cents  to  have  it 
registered,  if  a  large  amount;  but  where  it  is  only  a  few  dollars, 
put  it  in  a  letter  so  it  will  look  small,  and  then  three  cents  will 
answer.  We  seldom  miss  letters;  and  when  a  bill  of  a  large 
denomination  is  placed  in  a  letter  it  does  not  show  that  it  con- 
tains anything,  and  if  it  looks  so  it  is  sure  to  arrive  safe,  and 
thus  you  would  save  seventeen  cents;  and  as  a  penny  saved  is 
as  good  as  two  earned,  you  can  take  your  choice. 


Dishonest  Devices. 


545 


When  you  receive  your  present  be  kind  enough  to  inform  us 
of  the  fact,  so  we  can  file  away  as  delivered.  In  case  you  do 
do  not  receive  it  at  the  expiration  of  ten  days,  be  prompt  in 
giving  us  word,  so  we  can  look  it  up.  On  any  business  enclose 
stamp  for  return  answer. 

The  books  will  be  closed  after  fifteen  days  from  the  date  of 
your  notification,  as  it  must  be  closed  as  soon  as  possible  in 
order  to  relieve  the  committee,  and  as  it  will  give  all  ample  time 
to  remit  or  send  their  order  how  the  present  must  be  sent. 

We  think  we  have  given  you  all  the  information  required, 
thus  saving  you  the  trouble  of  writing  for  information. 

All  letters  should  be  addressed,  per  order  of  the  managers,  to 
Read  &  Co.,  Bankers^  No.  6  Clinton  Hall,  Astor  Place, 

Successors  to  Geo.  A.  Cooke  &  Co.  New  York  City. 

THE  TICKET  SWINDLE. 

Not  one  in  fifty  wlio  receive  tickets  ever  buys  them. 
Almost  all  the  victims  are  partners  to  the  fraud. 
They  receive  notice  from  the  managers  in  New  Vork 
that  the  ticket  purchased  by  them  has  draAvn  the 
prize.  Any  number  is  put  in  that  the  managers 
please.  The  prize  is  a  gold  watch,  worth  two  hun- 
dred dollars,  or  a  diamond,  or  some  other  thing  worth 
that  amount.  Perhaps  from  ten  thousand  to  fifty 
thousand  persons  receive  the  same  notice.  The  parties 
have  bought  no  such  ticket.  They  hold  no  such  ticket. 
They  think  the  letter  directed  to  them  is  a  mistake — 
intended  for  somebody  else.  They  catch  at  the  bait. 
For  ten  dollars  they  can  get  two  hundred.  The  man 
has  only  ten  days  in  which  to  make  the  return.  He 
sends  his  money,  gets  swindled  in  common  with  ten 
thousand  others,  and  then  lodges  his  complaint  with 
the  New  York  police.  The  managers  understand  this 
arrangement  very  well.  They  know  the  victim  will 
not  dare  prosecute,  for  he  is  a  party  to  the  swindle. 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


The  establishment  pockets  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars  for  three  months'  experiment,  removes  to  an- 
other part  of  the  city,  takes  a  new  name,  and  com- 
mences the  same  swindle  over  again.  Here  is  one  of 
the  tickets  with  which  a  St.  Louis  man  was  swindled 
out  of  his  five  per  cent.  He  sent  the  card  to  the  New 
York  police. 

Mr.  , 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Dear  Sir:  You  are  hereby  notified  that  ticket  No.  137  has  . 
drawn  gold  watch  valued  at  $200.    Five  per  cent,  on  the  valua- 
tion is  $10.    The  percentage  must  be  paid  or  forwarded  within 
twelve  days  from  the  date  of  this  notice. 

Those  receiving  prizes  in  the  preliminary  drawing  receive 
them  with  this  understanding,  that  they  will  either  buy  tickets 
in  our  grand  distribution  that  takes  place  in  November,  or  use 
their  influence  in  everyway  possible  to  sell  tickets.  Any  parties 
receiving  this  notice,  who  are  not  willing  to  assist  us  in  our 
grand  enterprise,  will  please  return  th©  ticket  and  notice  as  soon 
as  received.    All  communications  and  money  must  be  sent  to 

Hallett,  Moore  &  Co.,  Bankers  and  Financial  Managers. 

575  Broadway,  New  York. 

By  order  of  the 

New  York  Jewellers'  Co-operative  Union. 
N.  B.  No  prizes  will  be  shipped  until  the  percentage  is  re- 
ceived. We  will  be  ready  in  fifteen  days  to  fill  orders  for  tickets 
in  the  grand  distribution  of  five  million  dollars'  worth  of  goods, 
the  drawing  of  which  is  to  take  place  in  the  building  of  the  New 
York  Jewellers'  Co-operative  Union,  November  16,  1868. 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

MODES  OF  OPERATING. 

The  great  concerts  promised,  the  public  drawings 
and  distribution  of  prizes,  never  come  off.  Names 
are  used  without  the  knowledge  or  consent  of  the  im- 
portant gentlemen  who  are  made  parties  to  the  fraud. 


Dishonest  Devices. 


547 


Soldiers  are  enlisted  in  the  work  of  selling  tickets, 
and  are  guaranteed  invariably  a  personal  prize  from 
fifteen  to  five  hundred  dollars.  Soldiers  who  have 
been  in  the  field  are  especially  guaranteed. 

PRIZE  TICKET. 

Ticket  in  the  Preliminary  Drawing  of  the  New  York  Jewellers' 
Co-operative  Union, 

[No.  137.] 

The  person  receiving  the  prize  drawn  by  this  ticket  receives  it 
with  the  understanding  that  he  will  use  his  influence  and  do  all 
in  his  power  to  forward  the  sale  of  tickets  in  our  grand  drawing, 
to  take  place  the  16th  day  of  November  next.  All  money  and 
orders  for  tickets  in  the  November  drawing  should  be  sent  to 
Hallett,  Moore  &  Co.,  Bankers^ 

575  Broadway,  New  York. 

The  vanity  of  persons  is  appealed  to.  Out  of  the 
thousands  addressed,  each  one  supposes  himself  the 
privileged  and  favored  party.  Each  one  goes  to  work 
to  sell  tickets.  Thousands  of  letters  come  in  weekly 
to  the  New  York  house,  each  containing  sums  vary- 
ing from  ten  to  twenty,  fifty,  and  one  hundred  dollars. 
The  circular  below  was  received  by  a  soldier  in  aid 
of  the  "Sailors'  and  Soldiers'  Refuge."  He  sent  on 
one  hundred  dollars  for  tickets  sold,  and  ten  dollars 
to  pay  the  percentage  on  his  own  prize — which  of 
course  he  never  received.  Long  before  he  could  reach 
New  York  the  concern  had  disappeared. 

CIRCULAR. 

General  Agency  for  the  United  States,  ) 
New  York.  ) 

Dear  Sir:  As  we  are  determined  to  send  a  good  prize  in  your 
neighborhood,  and  with  this  resolution  we  have  been  looking 


548 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


around  for  an  opening  in  which,  by  presenting  some  discreet  re- 
liable person  with  a  prize  of  a  few  hundred  dollars,  it  would 
have  the  desired  effect  to  increase  the  number  of  our  customars. 
We  accidentally  met  with  your  address,  and  the  idea  occurred 
to  us  at  once  that  you  were  just  the  person  to  aid  us  in  our  en- 
terprise. We  therefore  make  to  you  a  proposition  that  must 
strike  you  as  being  no  less  novel  than  it  is  liberal,  and  that  you 
may  not  suppose  that  there  is  any  deception  in  it  we  inform  you 
that  the  prize  money  does  not  come  out  of  our  pocket,  but  out 
of  the  pocket  of  the  lottery  managers^  and  we  shall  not  lose  by 
sending  a  few  hundred  dollars  in  prize  money^  but  shall  gain  by 
it  in  the  increased  amount  of  business  we  shall  expect  from  your 
neighborhood  when  you  show  the  " greenbacks,"  and  make  it 
generally  known  that  they  are  the  proceeds  of  a  prize  drawn  at 
our  office.  We  make  this  offer  to  you  in  strict  confidence — the 
proposal  is  plain.  We  are  to  send  a  certificate  for  a  chance  to 
draw  a  prize  of  a  few  hundred  dollars.  You  are  to  show  the 
money.  The  result  will  be  that  hundreds  of  dollars  will  be  sent 
to  U9  for  tickets.  You  may  be  the  gainer  of  a  few  hundred 
dollars.  We  shall  be  gainers  by  our  sales,  and  the  parties  who 
send  for  tickets  may  be  gainers  by  drawing  prizes.  Every  one 
that  sends  will  of  course  expect  to  draw  a  prize,  not  knowing  the 
offer  we  made  privately  to  you,  which  is  as  follows  :  Send  us  $10 
to  pay  the  ma7iagers,  and  we  will  send  to  you,  securely  sealed,  a 
certificate  of  a  package  of  tickets  in  the  enclosed  scheme  ;  and 
to  set  at  rest  any  doubt  you  may  have  of  our  sincerity,  we  here- 
by bind  ourselves  to  send  you  a  second  certificate  in  any  of  our 
brilliant  extra  lotteries,/or  nothing,  if  the  first  we  send  you  does 
not  draw  you,  clear  of  all  expenses,  twelve  hundred  dollars;  and 
mark  this  fact,  to  send  you  twelve  hundred  dollars  out  of  the 
managers'  pocket  will  cost  us  nothing,  but  to  send  you  an  extra 
certificate  will  take  money  out  of  our  pocket.  We  mention  this 
merely  to  show  you  that  it  is  our  interest  to  send  you  a  prize. 
We  hand  you  an  envelope  with  our  address.  Enclose  to  us  $10, 
and  state  in  your  letter  whether  we  shall  send  you  a  draft  on 
your  nearest  bank,  or  shall  we  send  you  the  amount  in  green- 
backs" by  mail,  which  last  perhaps  will  suit  you  better.  Please 
let  us  have  your  order  by  return  mail,  as  we  shall  have  to  order 


JJisHONEST  Devices. 


549 


the  certificate  from  the  managers  for  you,  and  believe  us, 
Yours,  respectfully, 

C.  A.  Taylor  &  Co. 

P,  S.  In  remitting,  please  send  post  office  order  or  by  express, 
or  register  the  letter,  to  insure  safe  delivery  to  us. 

MEDICAL  SWINDLE, 

Another  favorite  mode  of  swindling  is  carried  on 
by  men  whose  "sands  of  life  have  almost  run  out." 
The  party  represents  Ijimself  as  a  retired  clergyman ; 
one  who  had  suffered  long  from  the  asthma,  or  from 
a  bronchial  affection,  or  one  nearly  ^iead  with  the 
dyspepsia,  or  wasting  away  with  consumption. 
Through  a  recipe  from  an  old  doctor,  or  an  old  nurse, 
or  an  Indian,  the  party  obtained  relief.  Out  of  grati- 
tude for  the  recovery,  the  healed  clergyman  or  indivi- 
dual gives  notice  that  he  will  send  the  recipe  "with- 
out charge"  to  any  sufferer  who  may  desire  it. 
Circulars  by  the  thousand  are  sent  to  the  address  of 
persons  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  Each  person  is 
required  to  put  a  postage  stamp  in  his  letter,  for  the 
transmission  of  the  recipe.  Thousands  of  letters 
come  back  in  response.  The  recipe  is  sent,  attached 
to  which  is  the  notice  that  great  care  must  be  taken 
in  securing  the  right  kind  of  medicine.  Not  one 
apothecary  in  a  hundred  in  the  country  has  the  medi- 
cine named.  The  benevolent  holder  of  the  recipe 
adds  to  other  things,  that  should  the  party  not  be  able 
to  get  the  medicine,  if  he  will  enclose  three  or  five 
dollars,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  New  York  party  will 
make  the  purchase  and  send  it  on  by  express.  Dream- 
ing of  no  fraud,  the  money  is  sent  as  directed.  If  the 
medicine  is  sent  on  at  all,  it  costs  about  fifty  cents  to 


550 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


the  buyer,  and  a  handsome  business  is  done.  If  the 
swindle  takes,  the  party  will  pocket  from  twenty 
thousand  to  fifty  thousand  dollars,  break  up  the  con- 
cern, and  be  out  of  the  way  before  the  victim  can 
visit  New  York. 

THE  LETTERS.  \ 

The  thirty  large  gift  establishments  receive  about 
five  hundred  letters  a  day.  Full  three-fifths  of  these 
letters  contain  money.  Some  of  the  letters  detained 
by  the  authorities  were  found  to  contain  sums  as  high 
as  three  hundred  dollars.  Directed  to  different 
parties,  they  are  taken  out  by  the  same  persons.  The 
medicine  swindle,  the  dollar  fraud,  advertising  for 
partners,  dollar  stores,  and  gift  enterprises  are  run 
by  the  same  parties.  This  advertising  for  partners 
is  worthy  of  especial  notice.  A  man  with  a  capital 
of  from  one  hundred  to  five  hundred  dollars  is 
wanted.  Great  inducements  are  held  out  to  him. 
He  can  make  one  hundred  dollars  a  day  and  run  no 
risk.  The  victim  appears.  He  has  a  little  money,  or 
his  wife  has  some,  or  he  has  a  little  place  he  can 
mortgage.  The  gift  swindle  is  open  to  him.  The 
basket  of  letters  is  opened  in  his  presence.  He  is 
offered  a  share  in  the  dazzling  scheme.  He  pays  his 
money,  helps  open  the  letters  for  a  day  or  two,  and 
then  the  scheme  dissolves  in  the  night.  Almost  all 
these  large  swindles  have  smaller  ones  that  go  along 
with  them. 

WHY    DO  NOT  THE    POLICE  BEEAK  UP  THIS  SWINDLING? 

The  names  of  the  parties  who  are  carrying  on  these 
gigantic  swindles  are  well  known  to  our  police.  The 


Dishonest  Devices. 


551 


managers  have  been  arrested  a  dozen  times.  Broken 
up  in  one  place,  under  a  new  name  they  open  again. 
Thousands  of  lecters  are  sent  to  the  polic^e  headquar- 
ters from  victims  asking  for  redress.  But  not  one  of 
these  letters  is  a  complaint.  Without  a  complaint 
the  police  are  powerless.  The  victims  belong  to  the 
country.  Most  of  them  have  a  respectable  standing. 
They  knew  the  thing  was  illegal  when  it  was  pre- 
sented to  them.  It  was  a  lottery,  and  nothing  more. 
When  they  sent  their  ten  dollars  to  secure  the  prize, 
they  knew  it  was  a  cheat  on  their  part,  for  they  had 
bought  no  ticket,  and  if  there  was  a  prize  they  were 
not  entitled  to  it.  They  dare  not  commence  a  suit 
against  these  parties,  and  come  to  New  York  and 
prosecute  it.  The  swindlers  understand  this  perfectly 
well,  and  defy  the  authorities.  If  gentlemen  from 
the  rura!  districts  love  to  be  swindled,  and  will  be 
parties  to  the  cheat,  refuse  to  make  a  complaint,  or 
back  up  the  complaint  in  the  courts,  they  must  take 
the  consequences. 


CHAPTER  XXXm 
SKETCHES  HERE  AND  THERE. 


SHARP  MEN  AND  SHARP  TRADE — THE  DANGEROUS  PRACTICE  OF  IMITAT- 
ING SIGNATURES — TRICKS  TO  GET  MONEY  —  EXPERTS  —  SOLD  OUT  OF 
HOUSE  AND  HOME  —  JACOB  LITTLE  AND  MORSE  IN  WALL  STREET  — 
SHADOWS  ON  THE  STREET  —  A  REASONABLE  REQUEST  —  RELIGION  IN 
THE  STREET— LADY  BROKERS. 

THERE  is  more  humor,  more  frolic  and  fun  in 
the  street,  probably,  than  in  any  other  part  of 
New  York.  The  sharpest  men  that  can  be  found  fre- 
quent the  street.  They  represent  every  profession, 
and  every  calling.  The  business  is  ordinarily  monot- 
onous and  dull.  Men  are  full  of  animal  spirits,  and 
often  of  spirits  that  are  not  animal.  These  give  vent 
to  their  feelings,  and  sharp  sayings,  practical  jokes, 
snatches  of  the  opera,  comic,  and  flash  songs.  Cat 
calls,  imitation  of  birds,  with  hideous  noises,  enliven 
the  scene.  Jostling,  knocking  ofE  hats,  knocking  new 
beavers  down  over  the  eyes  of  the  owners,  and  other 
rude  sports,  are  often  indulged.  If  a  man  is  at  all 
unpopular,  or  makes  himself  obnoxious,  he  is  quite 
likely  to  lose  the  collar  of  his  coat.  If  he  resists,  or 
shows  bad  temper  under  the  rough  treatment,  he  will 
probably  lose  his  entire  suit.  Mock  trials  are  held, 
fines  imposed,  and  from  the  court  there  is  no  appeal. 
If  a  child  is  born  to  one  of  the  Board,  it  is  common 
to  take  up  a  penny  collection  as  a  present. 


Sketches  Here  and  There. 


553 


SMALL  OF  ITS  AGE. 

The  characteristics  of  each  one  come  out  on  the 
street.  Bold  operators  show  their  pluck.  The  timid 
are  laughed  at.  The  penurious  are  scourged,  and  the 
mean  show  their  nature.  One  broker  was  asked  if  he 
knew  a  party  that  was  named.  "Know  him?"  said 
the  broker,  "I  was  in  college  with  him. "  "Was  he  as 
mean  then  as  he  is  now?"  "Yes,  he  used  to  go  be- 
hind the  coliege  buildings  to  eat  his  nuts  and  raisins, 
that  he  might  not  give  the  fellows  any. "  One  of  this 
class  invited  a  few  friends  to  celebrate  the  eighteenth 
birthday  of  his  daughter.  It  w^as  an  unusual  event, 
and  his  associates  were  afraid  that  this  stretch  of 
liberality  would  aifect  his  health.  In  the  course  of 
the  evening  he  presented  some  liquor,  which  he  pro- 
nounced very  choice.  The  servant  passed  the  liquor 
round,  pouring  it  into  very  small  glasses,  and  in  very 
small  quantities.  "This,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "is  very 
old  liquor ;  it  was  old  w^hen  I  bought  it ;  I  put  it  away 
when  my  daughter  was  born,  and  it  has  been  kept 
eighteen  years  for  this  occasion."  "I  cannot  believe 
it,'^  said  one  of  the  guests ;  it  can't  be  as  old  as  you 
say  ;  it  is  too  little  of  its  age^ 

SHAEP  TRADE. 

Two  brokers  met.  "  I  have  a  lot  of  merchandise," 
said  one,  "  in  a  store,  that  I  took  in  trade.  I  want  to 
dispose  of  it. "  "  I  have  two  or  three  cases  of  cloth- 
ing," said  the  other,  "  that  I  wish  to  dispose  of- — how 
will  you  trade?"  "I  will  take  your  clothing,  and  give 
you  my  merchandise — ^unsight,  unseen.'  "  "It  is 
agreed."    The  merchandise  consisted  of  old  traps, 


554  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


sections  of  stove-pipe,  broken  tools,  worm-eaten  desks, 
remnants  of  brooms,  decayed  barrels,  broken  ladders, 
dilapidated  hose,  and  kindred  merchandise — the  ac- 
cumulation of  years.  The  suits  of  clothes  were  of 
dark  glazed  muslin,  simply  basted. 

DANGEEOUS  PASTIME. 

Some  of  the  most  expert  penmen  in  the  country  are 
in  the  street.  The  young  men  imitate  the  signatures 
of  the  boldest  operators.  It  is  quite  a  common  thing 
in  the  office  of  brokers,  at  the  stock  board,  and  in  the 
banks,  for  the  clerks  to  imitate  the  handwriting  of 
distinguished  men.  They  will  give  you  the  signature 
of  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  Brown  Brothers,  Gould, 
Clews,  Sherman  &  Co.,  and  others,  so  perfectly  that 
the  men  themselves  cannot  distinguish  the  forged 
from  the  genuine.  In  some  of  the  banks  a  clerk  signs 
the  name  of  the  cashier  to  all  the  checks  drawn  by 
the  bank,  and  will  imitate  the  signature  of  the  officer 
so  well,  that  he  cannot  tell  his  own  writing  from  that 
of  his  assistant.  Bets  are  frequently  made  that  a 
check  presented  so  signed  will  be  paid  at  the  bank. 
An  instance  occurred  the  other  day.  A  dinner  was 
pending  for  half  a  dozen  on  the  success  of  the  experi- 
ment. A  party  drew  a  cheek  on  the  bank,  signed  it 
as  president,  endorsed  it  as  cashier,  handed  it  to  the 
paying  teller,  who  looked  at  the  signature  and  en- 
dorsement, placed  it  on  his  file  and  handed  over  the 
money.  The  party  then  went  behind  the  counter, 
paid  the  money  back,  and  took  the  check.  When 
such  pastimes  are  indulged,  and  such  jokes  played, 
and  young  men  recreate  themselves  in  imitating  tlio 


Sketches  Here  and    There.  555 


signatures  of  leading  men,  no  one  can  be  surprised 
that  an  expert  like  Ketclium  could  forge  the  signature 
of  his  own  house  and  the  endorsement  of  the  Gold 
Bank,  and  pass  them  current  on  the  street. 

A  gentleman  who  stood  at  the  head  of  the  United 
States  Treasury  in  this  city  wrote  a  very  peculiar 
hand.  He  was  placed  on  the  stand  in  an  important 
case  where  a  forgery  had  been  committed.  The  party 
on  trial  had  forged  the  name  of  a  gentleman  to  a 
large  amount.  The  case  turned  on  the  ability  of  the 
witness  to  decide  whether  the  signature  was  genuine 
or  not.  He  was  very  positive  on  that  point.  His 
own  signature,  he  said,  was  so  peculiar,  that  it  could 
be  told  any  where.  While  he  was  on  the  stand  three 
signatures  were  presented  to  him,  and  he  was  asked 
to  decide  which  of  them  was  genuine.  He  pronounced 
two  of  them  to  be  his  signatures.  The  counsel  pres- 
ented them  to  the  court,  and  requested  the  judge  to 
ask  the  gentleman  if  these  were  his  signatures.  He 
said  they  were.  The  counsel  then  stated  that  these 
two  signatures  pronounced  genuine  were  written 
while  the  gentleman  was  testifying — \\Titten  in  court 
by  a  young  man  who  was  sitting  at  the  table  and 
taking  notes.  The  gentleman,  amid  great  excitement, 
denied  the  statement,  and  said  it  was  impossible  that 
any  one  could  imitate  his  hand.  The  Judge  ordered 
the  young  man  to  produce  another  signature,  and  the 
court,  the  jury,  the  bar  and  the  spectators,  looked  on 
with  intense  interest.  With  astonishing  raj^idity  he 
threw  oif  four  signatures  in  the  presence  of  the  com- 
pany, so  exactly  like  the  treasurer's  handwriting  that 
he  said  if  they  had  been  presented  to  him  personally, 


556 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


at  his  department,  he  should  have  pronounced  the 
genuine. 

This  practice  is  fraught  with  immense  mischief, 
and  banking  houses,  as  well  as  dealers  in  stocks,  are 
often  victimized.  Forged  checks  are  presented  for 
payment  at  a  bank ;  presented  usually  near  three 
o'clock,  when  the  rush  is  great,  and  the  officer  in  a 
hurry  is  liable  to  be  imj)osed  upon.  Every  day  checks 
are  paid  that  are  forged,  and  the  most  ingenious  de- 
vices are  resorted  to  to  keep  outside  of  the  criminal 
code.  A  check  was  j)resented  the  other  day  at  one  o' 
the  banks,  payable  to  the  order  of  a  well-know 
house.  The  endorsement  was  forged,  the  party  writ- . 
ing  the  name  of  the  firm  in  whose  favor  it  was  drawn, 
and  writing  his  own  name  above,  with  "per"  at  the  . 
end  of  it,  but  so  written  as  to  look  like  "jr"  (junior),  r' 

TRICKS  TO  GET  MONEY. 

When  curbstone  brokers  are  hard  up,  they  resort^ 
to  every  possible  plan  to  get  a  little  money.    As  an  * 
illustration  :    A  man  called  on  a  well-known  firm  to- J 
get  the  payment  of  a  bill.    It  was  a  small  bill  of  ten'j 
dollars.    He  wanted  a  check  to  send  away,  he  said,.f 
and  asked  the  house  if  they  would  give  him  a  check 
for  fifty  dollars — he  paying  the  balance  in  money — ' 
which  the  cashier  was  ready  to  do.    He  took  his 
check  home,  commenced  practicing,  till  he  imitated 
the  signature  of  the  house  perfectly.    In  a  week  he 
went  back,  said  he  had  not  used  the  check,  but  was 
going  to  use  it  that  day.    He  desired  the  signature 
of  the  house  on  the  check,  just  to  identify  his  en- 
dorsement.   The  accommodation  asked  was  readil 


Sketches  Here  and    There.  557 


granted.  He  obtained  a  similar  check,  filled  it  up 
exactly,  put  in  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars, 
imitated  the  guarantee,  went  to  the  bank,  handed  the 
check  for  fifty  dollars,  which  was  paid;  handed  the 
check  for  three  thousand  dollars  immediately  after, 
which  resembled  the  preceding  one  in  every  respect; 
that  also  was  paid,  and  the  party  took  the  money  and 
disappeared.  Not  only  are  signatures  forged,  but 
the  amount  in  bonds  and  other  securities  is  so  altered 
as  almost  to  defy  detection.  The  rush  of  business  is 
so  tremendous  in  large  offices  in  business  hours  that 
sharp  men  are  often  successful  in  their  frauds. 

EXPERTS. 

All  the  leading  brokers  are  bankers.    They  take 
i  money  on  deposit,  allow  interest,  and  the  money  can 
he  checked  out,  as  in  a  bank.    These  large  honses 
differ  from  banks  in  that  they  are  not  incorporated, 
and  they  deal  in  stocks,  as  well  as  take  money  on 
i  deposit.    In  nearly  every  house  there  are  experts — 
,men  who  seem  to  have  an  intuitive  gift  to  detect 
forgery.    It  is  a  very  curious  thing  to  see  a  sharp 
expert  at  work.    I  was  in  an'  office  the  other  day,  a 
igentleman  came  in,  handed  a  check  to  one  of  the  firm, 
and  said,  "that  is  not  my  check,  sir;  it  is  forged." 
,It  was  a  capital  imitation,  and  the  broker  believed  it 
was  genuinCo    The  man  whose  name  had  been  forged 
held  a  bundle  of  checks  in  his  haifd,  all  of  which  were 
genuine  except  that.    The  broker  placed  the  forged 
check  in  the  centre  of  the  bundle,  threw  it  on  the 
table,  and  called  in  his  expert.    Pointing  to  the 
package,  he  said,  "one  of  those  checks  is  said  to  be 


558 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


forged."  The  expert  took  the  bundle  in  his  hand, 
and  turned  them  over  so  rapidly  that  the  eye  could 
scarcely  follow  the  movement.  He  turned  over  proh- 
ably  fifty  before  he  came  to  the  bogus  check.  When 
he  reached  it,  he  jerked  it  from  the  bundle,  and  threwi 
it  on  the  table.  He  could  give  no  satisfactory  ex-; 
planation  how  he  detected  it;  it  was  not  the  paper, 
nor  the  filling,  nor  the  signature,  nor  the  endorse-, 
ment;  it  was  the  whole  thing.  It  did  not  look  right.  - 
It  was  too  smooth,  too  nice.  There  are  some  experts' 
that  can  detect  the  best  forged  bill  or  altered  bond, 
if  placed  among  thousands,  the  moment  the  eye  rests 
upon  it.    They  command  enormous  salaries. 

i 

SOLD  OUT  OF  HOUSE  AND  HOME. 

It  is  considered  a  nice  thing  on  the  street  to  outwit! 
a  fellow  broker.  A  geniieman  owned  a  very  nicei 
house,  which  he  had  built  and  furnished  to  suit  him| 
self.  He  offered  to  sell  it  at  an  advance  of  five  thou| 
sand  dollars.  A  party  instantly  drew  his  check  and 
bought  the  house.  When  the  papers  were  passed: 
they  were  made  out  to  a  third  party.  The  speculatoij 
made  fifteen  thousan^jl  dollars  by  the  transactiou| 
The  bell  of  an  up-town  broker  was  rung  one  morning 
and  a  gentleman  asked  permission  to  examine  tht 
parlors.  He  was  desirous  of  buying  a  house  in  thai- 
block,  and  had  understood  that  they  were  all  alike; 
He  was  from  the  countiy,  had  but  little  time  to  spend) 
and  the  uncivil  occupant  would  not  let  him  in.  Th(' 
civil  broker  showed  him  the  parlors,  and  as  he  wa^ 
leaving  simply  said,  "I  suppose  you  would  not  sel 
youi*  house. "  "Oh  yes,"  said  the  gentleman,  "I  wouh 
sell  anything  but  my  wife  and  children."    A  prictj 


Sketches  Here  and  There,  559 


Iwas  named,  accepted,  and  a  contract  entered  into. 
The  next  day  lie  found  he  had  sold  to  a  broker— sold 
I  for  ten  thousand  less  than  his  next  door  neighbor  got 
ifor  his  house,  and  had  actually  turned  himself  out  of 
house  and  home,  and  had  to  take  refuge  in  an  attic, 
in  an  overcrowded  Fifth  Avenue  hotel. 

TELEGRAPHY. 

)  Everything  is  bought  and  sold  by  the  telegraph 
now.  Stock  sales  are  all  transacted,  contracts  made, 
jmoney  paid,  checks  stopped,  and  millions  change 
hands  daily  through  the  subtle  agency  of  the  wires. 
All  banks,  stock  boards  and  large  houses  of  trade,  do 
business  by  telegraph.  In  panics,  money  is  made  by 
outsiders.  California,  Chicago,  Boston  and  New  Or- 
jjleans  reap  golden  harvests  when  Wall  street  is  in  a 
panic.  Men  in  the  stree#  are  at  their  wits  end,  but 
these  cool  operators  in  the  distance  "strike  while  the 
iron  is  hot."  Professor  Morse,  and  his  associates, 
I  while  they  were  struggling  to  give  this  great  inven- 
tion a  permanent  footing  came  into  Wall  street  to  get 
money.  The  men  were  poor  enough.  The  few  per- 
sons that  had  confidence  in  the  invention  had  no 
money.  Things  went  roughly  and  savagely  Avith  the 
little  band.  '  They  came  into  the  street,  meanly 
dressed,  wearing  rough  shoes,  and  looked  like  men 
who  had  a  hard  battle  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door.  Jacob  Little  was  then  the  great  financier  of 
the  street.  At  that  time  he  could  have  controlled  all 
the  telegraph  lines  in  the  land.  He  looked  on  Morse 
as  a  schemer,  if  not  a  charlatan.  "I  will  give  Morse 
one  hundred  dollars  to  help  him  along,"  he  said,  "but 


560 


WONDEEF  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


not  one  dollar  for  investment. "  Little  died  in  poverty, 
and  Morse  a  millionaire.  Jolm  C.  Spencer  stood  at 
the  head  of  the  Treasury  Department,  and  was  an 
intelligent,  talented  man;  yet  he  asked  John  Butterl 
field  how  large  a  bundle  could  be  sent  over  the  wires, 
and  if  the  United  States  mail  could  not  be  sent  thai 
way.  / 

SHADOWS  ON  THE  STKEET. 

I 

One  of  our  heaviest  houses  had  reason  to  suspeclj 
one  of  its  clerks.  A  detective  was  employed  to  tractj 
the  young  man,  and  he  followed  him  for  fourteer' 
days.    At  the  end  of  that  time,  he  presented  a  writ! 
ten  report  of  the  movements  of  the  clerk,  and  he! 
kept  track  of  him  every  hour.    The  clerk  lived  in  a' 
country  town — he  reached  his  home  by  car  and  boat 
and  during  the  time  the  ^etective  was  on  his  trackj 
he  was  with  the  clerk  on  eveiy  train,  and  in  every 
boat.    He  knew  where  he  went,  how  long  he  stayed! 
with  whom  he  talked,  and  wliat  he  ate  and  drank! 
He  was  followed  to  places  of  amusement,  to  houses 
of  drinking  and  gambling.    Twice  he  rose  at  two  iij 
the  morning,  after  he  had  retired,  and  met  partie^i 
whom  he  had  accurately  described.    There  was 
shadow  on  his  path  perpetually.     When  he  was 
brought  into  the  president's  room,  and  charged  witl 
peculations,  he  was  overwhelmed  with  the  accurac}' 
with  which  his  movements  were  detailed.    He  con 
fessed,  made  resticution  in  part,  and  was  allowed  td 
escape. 

A  REASONABLE  REQUEST.  ' 

It  is  a  common  thing  for  New  York  men  to  clul 

i 
1 


Sketches  Here  and  Jhere, 


561 


together,  buy  a  tract  of  ground  in  some  out  of  town 
location  and  build  up  a  settlement,  select  and  exclu- 
sive a*s  they  please.  One  of  these  elegant  and  cozy 
retreats  is  on  the  North  River.  To  accommodate  the 
families  a  small  but  elegant  church  was  erected,  and 
the  congregation  was  more  select  than  numerous. 
Among  the  new  comers  was  a  gentleman  who  stands 
quite  high  at  the  Bar.  He  joined  the  congregation, 
and  was  peculiar  for  a  slow,  yet  decided  and  bold 
utterance.  In  the  service  he  kept  a  word  or  two  be- 
hind the  congregation,  and  uniformly  did  so  to  the 
gi'eat  annoyance  of  the  worshipers.  His  voice  was 
so  loud,  his  manner  so  patronizing,  and  his  persistent 
lagging  behind  so  annoying,  that  he  attracted  general 
attention.  Had  the  congregation  been  larger  the 
annoyance  would  have  been  less  observed.  One  Mon- 
day morning,  coming  down  in  the  boat,  the  company 
were  expressing  their  impatience  that  the  beautiful 
service  should  be  so  marred  by  the  persistency  of  one 
man.  One  of  the  party,  a  prompt,  rough,  honest- 
speaking  man,  said,  "I  will  take  the  nonsense  out  of 
him ;  I  will  make  him  keep  up  next  Sunday. "  He 
went  toward  the  legal  gentleman,  who  was  sitting 
by  himself,  and  the  company  thinking  there  might 
be  some  music,  gathered  around.  Addressing  him- 
self to  the  party  he  said,  "I  see  you  attend  our  little 
church  on  Sundays."  "Yes,  sir."  "I  hope  you  are 
interested."  "Very  much,"  was  the  reply — "we  will 
have  a  fine  congregation  by-and-by,  as  the  population 
come  in."  "Well  !"  said  the  broker,  "perhaps  you 
would  be  willing  to  confer  a  favor  on  our  society,  if 
you  are  interested  in  our  movement."  "Oh,  certainly, 


1 

5G2  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

certainly,"  was  the  bland  reply,  "anything  I  can  do 
for  the  society  I  will  be  very  happy  to  do."  "Well,, 
sir,  won't  you  be  kind  enough,  next  Sunday  morning, 
to  '  descend  into  hell '  with  the  rest  of  the  congrega 
tion?" 

RELIGION  AND  MONEY. 

"Where  do  you  attend  church?"  said  a  gentleman 

to  a  prominent  operator  in  the  street.  "Rev.  Dr.  

endorses  my  paper,"  was  the  reply.   Yet  Wall  street.' 
at  least  half  a  day  can  be  found  in  the  fashionable 
up-town  churches.    Many  of  them  are  devoted  Chrisl 
tian  people.    They  are  identified  with  mission  wort' 
among  the  lowly ;  they  give  liberally  to  every  good! 
cause ;  they  are  teachers  and  superintendents  in  Sun' 
day  schools.    In  the  afternoon,  the  great  mass  ol 
Wall  street  will  be  found  in  Central  Park,  rathei^ 
than  in  church.    The  new  system  of  what  are  called^ 
sacred  concerts  on  Sunday  nights,  in  which  the  lead: 
ing  opera  singers  perform  operatic  music,  is  patronil 
zed  and  countenanced  principally  by  the  operators 
the  street.    The  annual  election  of  wardens  and' 
vestry  of  Trinity  parish  excites  quite  as  much  atten| 
tion  in  Wall  street  as  it  does  in  any  portion  of  the 
city.    Trinity  leases  are  immediately  valuable,  and; 
as  they  occupy  the  best  portion  of  the  city,  and  an 
under  the  control  entirely  of  the  vestry,  the  annua, 
choice  of  this  body  excites  great  attention.  Th(| 
famous  Morley  lease,  which  Aaron  Burr  was  obligee 
to  hypothecate  with  John  Jacob  Astor  when  he  flee 
from  the  country,  laid  the  foundations  for  thelandec 
wealth  of  that  remarkable  house.  ' 


Sketches  Here  and    There.  563 


LADY  BROKERS  ON  THE  STREET. 

It  is  no  TiDcommoii  thing  for  ladies  to  appear  on 
the  street.  Some  of  them  have  money  of  their  own, 
some  of  them  desire  to  have.  Many  have  a  taste  for 
speculation ;  with  others,  the  infatuation  of  stock 
gambling  is  intoxicating.  They  walk  into  the  street, 
engage  a  small  broker  to  transact  business,  leave 
their  margin  and  watch  the  operation  with  intense 
interest  from  day  to  day.  A  lady  whose  husband  was 
cleaned  out  in  the  street,  took  her  little  patrimony 
and  went  among  the  brokers.  For  the  fun  of  the 
thing,  as  a  house  said,  a  party  w^as  found  willing  to 
make  an  investment.  It  proved  a  lucky  one.  The 
lady  immediately  w^ithdrew  from  the  street,  took  the 
lease  of  a  public  house  in  a  fashionable  watering 
place,  ran  it  in  superb  style,  made  a  very  handsome 
thing  in  the  business,  sold  out  advantageously,  and 
retired  with  a  competency,  showing  herself  to  be  one 
of  the  marked  business  women  of  the  age. 

A  lady  often  seen  in  Wall  street  has  a  romantic 
history.  Her  husband  is  well  known  in  New  York. 
He  lives  in  fine  style  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city, 
and  drives  one  of  the  most  dashing  turn-outs  in  the 
Park.  His  wife,  an  elegant  and  accomplished  lady, 
he  neither  lives  with  nor  supports.  Before  she  tried 
her  ability  in  Wall  street,  she  took  a  very  effectual 
way  to  mortify  her  husband,  for  he  has  great  personal 
pride.  Eesolved  not  to  be  dependent  on  the  man  who 
had  deserted  her,  and  not  to  want  bread,  she  identified 
herself  with  a  fashionable  up-town  establishment,  as 
a  worker  of  elegant  gold  embroidery.    She  issued  a 


564  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

beautiful  printed  circular,  announcing  herself  by  her 
husband's  name,  and  stating  his  business,  so  that 
there  could  be  no  mistake  about  the  identity.    She ! 
offered  her  services  to  the  fashionable  ladies  of  New . 
York,  stating  her  reasons  for  her  course,  that  she 
desired  to  earn  her  bread  for  herself  and  children. ! 
New  York  was  wonderfully  agitated  for  a  short  time, 
and  the  lady  obtained  what  she  deserved, — a  fair 
start.    The  gold  embroidery  exhibited  in  Paris,  which 
attracted  so  much  attention  among  the  crowned  heads 
at  the  Exposition,  was  the  work  of  this  lady.  Her 
pluck,  ability  and  daring  made  her  shop  on  Broad- 
way too  small.    She  found  a  fitting  field  in  the  street, 
and  operates  with  the  average  success.  i 

TWO  SHAEPEES.  . 

A  noted  sportsman,  taking  dinner  at  one  of  our 
clubs,  exhibited  a  diamond  ring  of  great  beauty  and 
apparent  value  on  his  finger.  A  gentleman  present 
had  a  great  passion  for  diamonds.  After  dinner,  the 
parties  met  in  the  ofiice.  After  much  bantering,  the 
owner  consented  to  barter  the  ring  for  the  sum  of  six 
hundred  dollars.  As  the  buyer  left  the  room,  a  sup- 
pressed tittering  struck  his  ear.  He  concluded  that . 
the  former  owner  had  sold  both  the  ring  and  the  pur- 
chaser. He  said  nothing,  but  called  the  next  day 
upon  a  jeweler,  where  he  learned  that  the  diamond 
was  paste,  and  the  ring  worth  about  twenty -five  dol- 
lars. He  examined  some  real  diamonds,  and  found  j 
one  closely  resembling  the  paste  in  his  own  ring. 
He  hired  the  diamond  for  a  few  days,  pledged  twelve  j 
hundred  dollars,  the  price  of  it,  and  gave  a  hundred 


Sketches  Here  and  There. 


565 


dollars  for  its  use.  He  went  to  another  jeweler,  had 
the  paste  removed,  and  the  real  diamond  set.  His 
chums,  knowing  how  he  had  been  imposed  upon,  im- 
patiently waited  for  his  appearance  the  next  night. 
To  their  astonishment  they  found  him  in  high  glee. 
He  flourished  his  ring,  boasted  of  his  bargain,  and 
said  if  any  gentleman  present  had  a  twelve  hundred 
dollar  ring  to  sell  for  six  hundred  dollars,  he  knew  of 
a  purchaser.  When  he  was  told  that  the  ring  was 
paste,  and  that  he  had  been  cheated,  he  laughed  at 
their  folly.  Bets  were  freely  offered  that  the  ring 
did  not  contain  a  real  diamond.  Two  men  bet  a  thou- 
sand dollars  each.  Two  bet  five  hundred  dollars. 
All  were  taken;  umpires  were  chosen.  The  money 
and  the  ring  were  put  into  their  hands.  They  went 
to  a  first-class  jeweler,  who  applied  all  the  tests,  and 
who  said  the  stone  was  a  diamond  of  the  first  water, 
and  was  worth,  without  the  setting,  twelve  hundred 
dollars.  The  buyer  put  the  three  thousand  dollars 
which  he  had  won  quietly  in  his  pocket.  He  carried 
the  diamond  back  and  recalled  his  twelve  hundred 
dollars,  and  with  his  paste  ring  on  his  finger  went  to 
his  club.  The  man  who  sold  the  ring  was  waiting 
for  him.  He  wanted  to  get  the  ring  back.  He  at- 
tempted to  turn  the  whole  thing  into  a  joke.  He 
sold  the  ring,  he  said,  for  fun.  He  knew  that  it  was 
a  real  diamond  all  the  time.  He  never  wore  false 
jewels.  He  could  tell  a  real  diamond  anywhere  by 
its  peculiar  light.  He  would  not  be  so  mean  as  to 
cheat  an  old  friend.  He  knew  his  friend  would  let 
him  have  the  ring  again.  But  his  friend  was  stub- 
born— said  that  the  seller  thought  that  it  was  paste, 


566 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


and  intended  to  defraud  him.  At  length,  on  the  pay- 
ment  of  eight  hundred  dollars,  the  ring  was  restored. 
All  parties  came  to  the  conclusion,  when  the  whole 
afEair  came  out,  that  when  diamond  cuts  diamond 
again  some  one  less  sharp  will  be  selected. 

MATRIMONIAL  SHARPKESS. 

New  York  merchants  frequently  sell  their  daugh- 
ters as  well  as  their  goods.    It  is  quite  a  common 
thing  to  put  respectability  and  standing  against 
money.    One  of  our  most  unscrupulous  politicians 
became  rich,  as  such  men  do  sometimes.    He  wanted 
respectability  and  social  position.    He  proposed  to 
attain  them  through  a  reputable  marriage.    He  pro- 
posed for  the  hand  of  one  of  the  fair  damsels  of 
Gotham.    His  political  position  was  high,  his  future 
prospects  dazzling.    The  lady's  father,  with  mercan- 
tile frankness,  offered  the  hand  of  his  daughter,  on 
condition  that  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  settled 
upon  her,  secured  by  real  estate.    The  proposal  was 
accepted,  and  the  wedding  preparations  went  on.  An 
elegant  house,  in  an  aristocratic  locality,  was  pur- 
chased.   It  was  fitted  up  in  great  style.    The  young 
lady  was  congratulated  on  her  fine  prospects.  More 
than  once,  as  the  time  drew  near  for  the  marriage, 
the  father  hinted  that  the  little  preliminary  trans- 
action should  be  attended  to.   "  O,  yes  !  O,  yes  !  Cer- 
tainly, certainly,"  the  bland  politician  would  say. 
His  brother  was  absent;  the  papers  were  not  com- 
plete ;  but  it  would  be  all  ready  before  the  marriage. 
It  was  not  till  the  afternoon  of  the  wedding  that  the 
papers,  in  due  form,  were  laid  before  the  gratified 


Sketches  Here  and  There, 


567 


father.  The  wedding  came  off  in  great  style.  Mar- 
riage in  high  life  greeted  the  eye  in  all  the  papers. 
A.  subsequent  examination  showed  that  the  property 
conveyed  to  the  bride  was  covered  with  a  mortgage 
of  ninety-five  thousand  dollars.  It  bore  date  of  the 
same  day  of  the  settlement,  but  was  prior  to  it,  and 
^uly  recorded  before  the  settlement  was  made.  The 
mortgage  conveyed  the  property  to  a  near  and  sharp 
relative  of  the  bridegroom.    On  the  return  from  the 

j  bridal  trip,  the  party  receiving  the  mortgage  refused 
to  deliver  it  up  to  the  bridegroom,  alleging  that  the 
-mortgage  was  genuine,  and  that  for  it  he  had  paid  a 
legal  consideration.  Whether  New  York  will  be 
electrified  with  a  lawsuit  between  the  parties  re- 
mains to  be  seen. 

A  young  man,  who  had  fixed  the  matter  all  right 
with  the  young  lady,  went  to  Cornelius  Vanderbilt 
and  said :  "I  wish  to  marry  your  daughter,  but  I  want 
her^  and  not  her  money. "  The  blunt  old  Commodore 
coolly  replied  :  "I  did  not  know  she  had  any  money. " 

I  The  wrathy  young  man  told  the  Commodore  that  he 
and  his  money  and  his  daughter  might  go — else- 
where.  "Hold  on;"  said  the  Commodore;  "don't get 

'  into  a  passion. "  He  held  on,  and  became  a  favorite 
son-in-law  and  partner  of  the  old  man. 


CHAPTER  XXXVm. 


PUBLISHER  ROBERT  BONNER 


HIS  EARLY  CAREER  AND  REMOVAL  TO  NEW  YORK  —  HIS  SYSTEM  OF  AD- 
VERTISING— THE  VALUE  OP  A  NAME — MR.  BEECHER  AND  THE  LED- 
GER—BONNER 's  HORSES— PERSONAL  TRAITS. 


E.  BONNER  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 


V from  Londonderry,  near  the  spot  from 
which  A.  T.  Stewart  emigrated.  The  Scotch  Presby- 
terian blood  that  made  General  Jackson  so  famous, 
and  has  given  success  to  the  well-known  house  of 
Brown  &  Brothers,  runs  in  the  blood  of  Mr.  Bonner. 
He  is  simply  a  Scotchman  born  in  Ireland.  He  was 
trained  under  the  influence  of  the  Shorter  Catechism. 
From  the  faith  of  his  fathers  he  has  never  departed. 
He  has  been  trustee  for  many  years  in  a  Scotch  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  the  upper  part  of  New  York,  and 
a  liberal  contributor  to  the  support  of  public  wor- 
ship and  the  various  forms  of  benevolence  and 
charity.  He  is  a  conscientious  business  man,  with 
great  resources,  with  fertility  of  genius  unmatched, 
and  with  indomitable  will,  untiring  industry,  and  more 
than  all,  he  possesses  that  crowning  gift  which  Solo- 
mon possessed  as  an  especial  patrimony  from  God — 
"largeness  of  heart." 


Robert  Bonner. 


569 


At  an  early  age  lie  entered  tlie  printing  office  of 
the  Hartford  Courant  to  learn  the  art  of  printing. 
He  was  dexterous,  swift  at  setting  type,  and  led  all 
the  workmen  in  the  nimbleness  with  which  he  conld 
set  up  an  article.    The  President's  Message  in  those 
days  was  transmitted  by  mail.    The  editor  of  the 
j  Courant  purchased  an  advanced  copy,  paying  for  it 
I  the  enormous  sum  of  thirty  dollars !    The  only  ad- 
vantage to  be  derived  fi'om  this  early  copy  was  in 
getting  the  message  out  in  advance  of  other  papers. 
To  accomplish  this  Mr.  Bonner  performed  the  won- 
I  derful  feat  of  setting  up  seventeen  hundred  ems  an 
I  hour.    He  performed  all  the  duties  connected  with 
I  his  position,  became  an  accomplished  printer,  tried 

I  his  hand  at  correspondence,  and  seated  himself  oc- 
i  casionally  in  the  editorial  chair. 

In  1844,  Mr.  Bonner  removed  to  the  city  of  New 

II  York.  There  was  a  popular  impression  that  a  literary 
!  paper  could  not  succeed  in  this  metropolis.  Boston 

and  Philadelphia  monopolized  the  family  newspapers 
\  and  literary  weeklies,  and  it  was  said  that  no  paper 
of  the  kind  could  prosper  in  this  city.    Mr.  Bonner 
thought  otherwise.    He  early  resolved  to  attempt  a 
paper  that  should  be  circulated  throughout  the  whole 
.  land.    He  watched  his  opportunity  and  bided  his 
I  time,  working  hard  in  the  meanwhile,  and  not  being 
dainty  in  the  place  or  style  of  business  in  which  he 
engaged.    Mayor  Harper  had  been  elected  as  the 
American  candidate.    A  paper  called  the  American 
RepiMican  was  the  organ  of  the  party.    In  this  office 
Mr.  Bonner  commenced  his  New  York  career.  The 


570  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


wages  paid  him  were  small.    His  work  was  hard,  and 
economy  was  requisite  to  enable  him  to  live.  He 
formed  the  habit,  from  which  he  has  never  departed, 
of  buying  nothing  that  he  could  not  pay  for.  He 
never  borrowed  a  dollar  of  money,  never  signed  a 
note  in  his  life,  and  now  carries  on  his  great  business  . 
on  strictly  cash  principles,  and  literally  owes  no  man  ' 
anything.    In  some  of  his  large  enterprises  he  has  ' 
paid  his  last  dollar,  and  never  has  once  failed  in  the 
venture  he  made.    In  some  of  his  great  advertising  j 
feats,  in  which  he  has  paid  as  high  as  twenty-five  ' 
thousand  dollars  a  week  for  advertising,  he  has  been  | 
offered  lines  of  papers  to  increase  the  advertisement  I 
to  fifty  thousand  dollars,  with  unlimited  credit,  and  j 
his  answer  has  invariably  been,  "I  cannot  advertise 
beyond  my  means.    I  have  no  more  money  to  spend  \ 
in  that  way. "    The  whole  business  of  the  Ledger  is  ' 
conducted  on  the  same  principle  to-day. 

MR.  B0]S"NEr's  start. 

When  Mr.  Bonner  purchased  the  Ledger,  it  was  a  | 
commercial  paper.  He  did  not  change  its  character  at  ' 
once,  but  gradually.    The  Ledger  became  less  and 
less  commercial,  and  more  and  more  literary.  About 
this  time  Fannie  Fern  was  creating  a  great  sensation 
in  the  literary  world.    Her  "Ruth  Hall"  had  just  a])- 
peared,  and  the  work  and  its  authoress  were  criti-  , 
cised  by  the  press  in  all  parts  of  the  land.    She  was 
the  literary  star  of  the  day.    The  question  was  vio- 
lently discussed  whether  she  was  or  was  not  the  sister 
of  N.  P.  Willis.    Mr.  Bonner  saw  his  opportunity, 
and  sent  a  note  to  Fannie  Fern,  offering  her  twenty- 


Robert  Bonner. 


571 


five  dollars  to  write  a  story  for  the  Ledger,  She  de- 
clined the  offer.  Another  proposition  was  sent,  of- 
fering her  fifty  dollars  a  column.  That  she  also  de- 
clined. Seventy-five  dollars  were  offered.  That  she 
declined,  announcing  that  she  did  not  intend  to  write 
any  more  for  the  newspapers.  She  admitted  that 
she  admired  Mr.  Bonner's  pluck.  Soon  it  was  inti- 
mated to  Mr.  Bonner  that  if  he  would  allow  Fannie 
Fern  to  write  a  story  of  ten  columns,  more  or  less, 
though  the  story  should  not  occupy  less  than  nine 
columns  of  the  Ledger^  she  would  undertake  it.  He 
closed  the  contract  immediately,  received  the  manu- 
script, read  six  lines,  and  sent  her  a  check  of  one 
thousand  dollars.  He  resolved,  with  this  story,  to 
introduce  a  new  era  in  the  Ledger.  He  changed  the 
form  of  the  paper,  double-leaded  the  story,  so  that  it 
made  twenty  columns  in  the  paper.  He  advertised 
it  as  nothing  was  advertised  before — one  hundred 
dollars  a  column.  The  harvest  was  a  glorious  one. 
Out  of  the  profits  of  that  story  Mr.  Bonner  purchased 
the  pleasant  residence  in  this  city  in  which  he  still 
lives. 

HIS  SYSTEM  OF  ADVEKTISmG. 

In  the  magnitude  of  his  advertising  Mr.  Bonner 
has  displayed  the  remarkable  business  skill  for  which 
he  is  celebrated.  The  manner  of  commending  the 
Ledger  to  the  public  is  wholly  his  own.  When  he 
startled  the  public  by  his  extravagance  in  taking  col- 
umns of  a  daily  journal,  or  one  entire  side,  he  secured 
the  end  he  had  in  view.  His  method  of  repeating 
three  or  four  lines,  such  as, — "Fanny  Fern  writes  only 


572 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


for  the  Ledger'^'' — or,  "  Eead  Mrs.  Southworth's  new 
story  in  the  Ledger^'' — and  this  repeated  over  and 
over  and  over  again,  till  men  turned  from  it  in  dis- 
gust, and  did  not  conceal  their  ill-temper,  was  a  sys- 
tem of  itself.  "What  is  the  use,"  said  a  man  to  Mr. 
Bonner,  "of  your  taking  the  w^hole  side  of  the 
Herald^  and  repeating  that  statement  a  tliousand 
times  "  Would  you  have  asked  me  that  question," 
replied  Mr.  Bonner,  "if  I  had  inserted  it  but  once? 
I  put  it  in  to  attract  your  attention,  and  make  you 
ask  that  question." 

His  mode  of  advertising  was  new,  and  it  excited 
both  astonishment  and  ridicule.  His  ruin  was  pre- 
dicted over  and  over  again.  But  as  he  paid  as  he 
went  along  he  alone  would  be  the  sufferer.  He  was 
assailed  in  various  ways.  Men  sneered  at  his  writers, 
as  well  as  at  the  method  in  which  he  made  them 
known.  He  had  no  competition.  Jusfc  then  it  was 
announced  that  the  Harpers  were  to  put  a  first-class 
Weekly  into  the  field.  The  announcement  was 
hailed  with  delight  by  many  classes.  Men  who 
had  been  predicting  Bonner's  ruin  from  the  start 
Avere  anxious  to  see  it  accomplished.  He  had 
agents  in  all  the  leading  cities  in  the  land.  These 
held  a  monopoly  of  the  Ledger,  The  book 
men  and  newspaper-men,  who  were  left  out,  were 
quite  willing  to  have  the  Ledger  go  under.  The  re- 
spectability and  wealth  of  the  house,  its  enterprise, 
with  the  class  of  writers  it  could  secure,  made  the 
new  paper  a  dangerous  rival.  Mr.  Bonner  concluded 
to  make  the  first  issue  serviceable  to  himself.  His 
paragraph  advei*tising  was  considered  sensational, 


Egbert  Bonner, 


573 


and  smacking  of  the  charlatan.  He  resolved  to  make 
it  respectable.  He  wrote  a  half  column  in  sensa- 
tional style — "Buy  Harper's  Weekly — "Buy  Har- 
per's Weekly"— "Buy  Harper's  Weekly"— "Buy 
Harper's  Weekly" — and  so  on  through  the  half  col- 
umn. Through  his  advertising  agent  he  sent  this  ad- 
vertisement to  the  Herald^  Trihime^  and  Times^  and 
paid  for  its  insertion.  Among  the  astonished  readers 
of  this  Ledger  style  of  advertising  were  the  quiet 
gentlemen  who  did  business  on  Franklin  Square. 
The  community  were  astonished.  "  The  Harpers  are 
waking  up!"  "This  is  the  Bonner  style!"  "This  is 
the  way  the  Ledger  man  does  it! "  were  heard  on  all 
sides.  The  young  Harpers  were  congratulated  by  the 
book-men  everywhere  on  the  enterprise  with  which 
they  were  pushing  the  new  publication,  They  said 
nothing  and  took  the  joke  in  good  part.  But  it  set- 
tled the  respectability  of  the  Ledger  style  of  adver- 
tising.. 

THE  VALUE  OF  A  NAME. 

The  popularity  given  to  a  little  squib  of  his  own, 
to  which  the  name  of  Dr.  Chalmers  was  attached, 
taught  Mr.  Bonner  a  lesson  that  he  never  forgot. 
Mr.  Edward  Everett  had  taken  upon  himself  to  aid 
the  ladies  of  America  in  purchasing  Mount  Vernon. 
Mr.  Bonner  resolved  to  secure  Mr.  Everett  as  a  writer 
for  the  Ledger,  He  knew  that  money  could  not  pur- 
chase Mr.  Everett's  connection  with  his  paper.  He 
offered  Mr.  Everett  ten  thousand  dollars  to  write  a 
series  of  articles  for  the  Ledger^  the  money  to  be  ap- 
propriated to  the  purchase  oi  the  bomb  of  the  father 


574  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  his  country.  Mr.  Everett  could  do  no  less  than 
accept.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  Mount  Vernon  pa- 
pers Mr.  Everett  continued  on  the  Ledger  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Bonner  paid  him  over  fifty  thousand 
dollars  for  services  rendered  on  his  paper. 

It  was  Mr.  Bonner's  policy  to  spike  every  gun  that 
could  be  aimed  against  him,  and  make  every  influence 
and  every  prominent  man  his  ally.  To  this  end  James 
Gordon  Bennett  of  the  Herald^  Henry  J.  Raymond 
of  the  Times^  and  Horace  Greeley  of  the  Tribune^ 
became  contributors  to  the  Ledger, 

Paul  Morphy,  in  the  height  of  his  popularity, 
edited  a  chess  column  in  the  Ledger,  Bryant,  Willis, 
Halleck,  Morris,  and  Saxe  laid  a  poetical  wreath  at 
Mr.  Bonner's  feet.  Prentice,  Bancroft,  Parton,  and 
Cozzens  joined  the  galaxy  of  Ledger  writers.  Fanny 
Fern,  Mrs.  South^^'orth,  and  other  eminent  novelists, 
furnished  the  entertaining  serials  published  by  Mr. 
Bonner. 

MR.  BEECHER  AND  THE  LEDGER. 

For  some  years  Henry  Ward  Beecher  was  a  con- 
tributor to  the  Ledger,  One  evening  Mr.  Bonner  and 
his  wife  went  over  to  Plymouth  Church  to  hear  the 
pastor.  The  sermon  was  on  success  in  life,  and  was 
given  in  Mr.  Beecher' s  most  vigorous  strain.  He 
showed  that  smartness,  cuteness,  and  adroitness  would 
not  lead  to  success  unless  they  were  combined  with 
energy,  a  knowledge  of  business,  an  indomitable  per- 
severance, and  an  integrity  which  would  enable  a  man 
to  dare  to  do  right.  H  Mr.  Beecher  had  intended  to 
hit  Mr.  Bonner's  character  and  success,  he  could  not 


Robert  Bonner. 


575 


have  come  nearer  to  the  mark.  Mr.  Bonner  had 
lacked  not  one  of  the  elements  Mr.  Beecher  had  des- 
cribed, and  every  one  knew  his  success.  This  sermon 
affected  Mr.  Bonner  in  various  ways.  He  was  in 
search  of  a  novelty  that  should  captivate  and  profit 
the  public.  Why  should  not  Mr.  Beecher  talk  to  a 
million  of  people  through  the  Ledger^  as  well  as  to 
i  speak  to  a  single  congregation  within  the  walls  of 
his  house?  His  acquaintance  with  men  had  been 
large.  His  wit  and  fancy  were  exuberant,  and  if  he 
would  write  a  story  for  the  Ledger  he  might  preach 
in  it  as  much  as  he  pleased,  put  money  in  his  purse, 
and  benefit  the  youth  of  the  country. 

While  Mr.  Beecher  was  attending  a  council  in  his 
own  church  a  letter  was  put  into  his  hands.  He  had 
had  no  conversation  with  Mr.  Bonner  about  writing 
a  story.  The  letter  contained  a  proposal  that  Mr. 
Beecher  should  write  a  serial  for  the  Ledger^  and 
named  the  price  which  would  be  paid  for  it,  which 
was  perfectly  astounding.  "Miracles  will  never 
cease,"  said  Mr.  Beecher,  in  his  note  replying  to  the 
proposal.  Norwood  appeared,  and  the  increased  cir- 
culation of  the  Ledger  immediately  reimbursed  Mr. 
Bonner  for  his  extraordinary  outlay.  The  story  was 
longer  than  was  expected,  and  an  addition  was  made 
to  the  price  agreed  upon. 

PEESONAL  TRAITS. 

When  a  printing  boy,  Bonner's  rule  was  to  be  the 
first  boy  in  the  office.  When  he  was  a  printer  he 
allowed  no  one  to  excel  him  in  the  swiftness  with 
which  he  set  type,  and  in  his  ability  as  a  workman. 


570 


Wonders  of  a  Great  Gity. 


When  lie  purchased  the  Ledger  he  intended  to  make 
it  the  foremost  paper  in  the  country.  He  resolved  to 
own  the  most  celebrated  and  fastest  horses  in  the 
world.  And  his  stud,  which  are  kept  in  his  stables 
on  Twenty-seventh  street,  headed  by  Maud  S.  and 
Dexter,  are  without  rivals.  Mr.  Bonner  buys  his 
horses  for  his  own  pleasure.  He  drives  them  him- 
self, and  is  one  of  the  best  horsemen  in  the  country. 
He  will  not  allow  his  horses  to  be  used  for  show  or 
for  gain.  He  races  with  nobody,  and  bets  with  no- 
body. If  any  team  can  make  faster  time  than  his, 
driven  by  the  owner,  ten  thousand  dollars  are  de- 
posited, and  that  owner  may  apply  that  sum  to  any 
benevolent  cause  that  he  pleases.  Millionaires  gnash 
their  teeth  as  Bonner  drives  by  them.  There  are 
horsemen  in  New  York  who  would  give  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  for  a  pair  of  horses  that  would  make 
Bonner  take  their  dust.  If  Bonner's  team  is  beaten, 
the  owner  must  do  as  he  does,  drive  it  himself.  Of 
the  s]3eed  of  his  horses  he  is  his  own  judge.  He 
will  buy  anything  that  will  beat  the  world.  When  a 
horse  is  presented  to  him  for  trial,  he  appears  in  full 
riding  costume,  with  gloves,  whip  and  watch  in 
hand.  He  does  not  allow  the  owner  to  handle  the 
ribbons. 

There  is  a  frank,  hearty  manliness  about  Mr.  Bon- 
ner which  binds  his  friends  to  him.  The  eminent 
men  who  have  written  for  his  paper  form  attach- 
ments to  him  that  death  only  severs.  Mr.  Everett 
conceived  a  warm  and  glowing  regard  for  him  that 
was  foreign  to  his  cold  nature.  His  manuscript  ora- 
tion on  Washington,  elegantly  bound,  he  sent  as  a  to- 


Robert  Bonner. 


577 


ken  of  his  personal  regard  to  the  editor  of  the  Ledger. 
Mr.  Bonner's  office  is  a  curiosity.    It  is  a  workshop, 
plainly  furnished.    His  table  is  loaded  with  letters, 
manuscripts,  and  documents.    His  office  is  adorned 
with  likenesses  of  his  prominent  contributors  and  his 
celebrated  horses.    Horeshoes,  and  the  paraphernalia 
1  of  fast  driving,  lie  around.    He  has  made  the  horse 
i  his  study  for  years,  and  has  a  better  knowledge  of  a 
horse's  foot  than  any  surgeon  in  the  world.  Mr. 
Bonner  is  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  is  short,thick-set, 
\  and  compactly  built.    His  hair  is  sandy,  his  com- 
I  plexion  florid,  his  forehead  high  and  intellectul,his  eye 
t  piercing,  and  his  whole  manner  frank,  genial,  and 
\  buoyant.    He   does  nothing  for  show.    He  lives 
j  comfortably,  but  without  ostentation,   in  a  plain 
I  brick  house.    His  wagons  are  in  the  usual  style, 
I  made  substantially.    His  country  seat,  at  Morrisa- 
nia,  is  elegant  and  commodious,  about  which  there  is 
'  no  tinsel  or  dash.    He  is  a  fine  specimen  of  what 
;  good  principles,  excellent  physical  culture,  persever- 
1  ance,  and  industry  can  do  for  a  man. 

In  his  style  of  living,  Mr.  Bonner  is  as  simple  and 
5  unostentatious  as  can  well  be  conceived.    He  lives  in 
^  a  plain  brick  mansion,  which  he  bought  many  years 
ago  with  his  first  earnings.    It  is  his  boast  that  his 
horses  are  as  well  cared  for,  and  have  rooms  as  airy 
and  comfortable  as  he  assigns  to  himself.  His  marble 
building,  known  as  the  Ledger  Building,  is  severely 
simple,  but  massive  and  commodious.    His  great  re- 
creation is  with  his  horses, — not  even  these  interfere 
with  his  business.    Late  in  the  afternoon,  when  the 
,j  day's  work  is  completed,  Mr.  Bonner  starts  for  his 


578  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


stables.  The  team  assigned  for  the  afternoon's  drive 
is  ready.  He  decks  himself  in  his  road  gear,  and 
with  the  ribbons  in  his  fingers,  moves  onward  through 
the  Park  for  his  daily  drive.  His  coming  is  awaited 
by  the  crowds,  who  gather  around  the  hotels,  and 
never  tire  of  the  matchless  speed  of  Bonner's  horses. 

Mr.  Bonner  has  been  a  liberal  benefactor  to  Prince- 
ton College,  where  two  of  his  sons  were  graduated. 
He  and  another  New  York  gentleman,  each  paying 
one-half,  built  the  fine  gymnasium,  costing  $40,000, 
on  the  college  grounds.  He  is  a  member  of  Dr.  John 
Hall's  Presbyterian  Church,  and  besides  contributing 
liberally  to  erect  the  splendid  edifice  on  Fifth  Avenue, 
he  drew  his  check  for  $100,000  to  pay  the  final  debt 
of  the  churcL 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


THE  ONLY  BARNUM. 


SKETCH  OP  THE  MAN  WHO  HAS  IN  HIS  TIME  BOTH  HUMBUGGED  AND 
AMUSED  THE  WORLD — HIS  EARLY  CAREER — THE  THEORY  OF  SUCCESS — 
UNHAPPY  REVERSES — SOME  PERSONAL  INCIDENTS. 


EW  men  in  America  are  as  widely  known  as 


J/  Pliineas  Taylor  Barnum,  the  prince  of  show- 
men. Were  the  President  of  the  United  States  and 
Mr.  Barnum,  to  walk  arm-in-arm  down  Broadway, 
not  one  person  in  a  thousand  would  recognize  the 
President,  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  at  least  one-half 
of  the  people  on  the  street  would  know  Mr.  Barnum 
and  take  a  second  glance  at  him  in  passing.  He  has 
been  a  public  character  for  fifty  years,  and  while  re- 
siding out  of  New  York  at  the  present  time,  in  the 
beautiful  little  city  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  he  retains 
many  interests  here  in  the  real  estate  as  well  as 
amusement  lines,  and  comes  down  to  town  almost 
every  business  day  in  the  year.  Apart  from  his  re- 
cord as  an  amusement  caterer,  he  is  also  prominent 
as  a  temperance  apostle,  having  talked  against  rum 
in  a  majority  of  the  cities  of  the  country.  Strange 
to  relate,  despite  his  pronounced  temperance  tactics 
and  habits  he  owns  the  property  corner  of  Houston 


580 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


and  Crosby  streets,  and  rents  the  same  to  the  notor- 
ious Harry  Hill.    While  a  resident  of  New  York, 
Mr.  Barnnm  lived  among  the  millionaires,  in  a  costly 
brown  stone  house  on  Fifth  Avenue,  corner  of  Thirty-  ^ 
ninth  street,  and  is  a  millionaire  himself.    He  has 
retired  from  the  details  of  active  life,  though  he  has  : 
the  controlling  interest  in  more  than  one  public  I 
amusement.    He  has  made  and  lost  several  fortunes,  i 
but  in  the  evening  of  his  life  he  is  in  possession  of  ; 
wealth*  which  he  expends  with  great  liberality  and  a  j 
genial  hospitality. 

He  was  born  in  Bethel,  Connecticut,  the  birthplace 
of  a  legion  of  showmen,  and  was  trained  in  a  village 
tavern  kept  by  his  father.  He  had  a  hopeful,  buoy 
ant  disposition,  and  was  distinguished  by  his  irre- 
pressible love  of  fun.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  began 
life  for  himself,  and  married  when  he  was  nineteen. 
As  editor  of  the  Herald  of  Freedom  he  obtained  a 
world-wide  notoriety.  The  sheet  was  distinguished 
for  its  pith  and  vigor.  Owing  to  some  sharp  com- 
ments on  officials,  Mr.  Barnum  was  incarcerated  in 
jail,  as  his  fi^iends  thought,  unjustly.  On  the  day  of 
his  liberation  his  friends  assembled  in  great  force, 
with  carriages,  bands  of  music  and  banners,  and 
escorted  him  in  triumph  to  his  home. 

MR.   BAENUM  AS  A  PUBLIC  CATERER. 

Mr.  Barnum' s  first  appearance  as  an  exhibitor  was 
in  connection  with  an  old  n egress  named  Joyce  Heth, 
the  alleged  nurse  of  George  Washington.  His  next 
attempt  was  to  obtain  possession  of  Scudder's  Ameri- 
can Museum.    Barnum  had  not  five  dollars  in  the 


p.  T,  Barnum. 


581 


world.    He  did  not  pay  one  dollar  down.    Tlie  con- 
,  cern  was  little  better  than  a  corpse  ready  for  burial. 
I  Yet  he  bound  himself  by  terms  fearfully  stringent, 
land  met  all  the  conditions  as  they  matured.  He 
secured  the  person  of  Charles  S.  Stratton,  the  cele- 
brated dwarf,  known  as  General  Tom  Thumb,  and 
I  exhibited  him  with  astounding  success.    He  secured 
,  the  services  of  Jenny  Lind,  binding  himself  to  pay 
her  a  thousand  dollars  per  night  for  a  hundred  and 
fifty  nights,  assuming  all  expenses  of  every  kind.  The 
contract  proved  an  immense  pecuniary  success.  From 
ithe  days  of  Joyce  Heth  to  the  present  time  Mr.  Bar- 
num has  always  had  some  specialty  connected  with 
his  shows,  which  the  world  pronounces  humbugs, 
land  Mr.  Barnum  does  not  deny  that  they  are  so. 
Among  these  are  the  Woolly  Horse,  the  Buffalo 
Hunt,  the  Ploughing  Elephant,  the  Fiji  Mermaid, 
the  What-Is-It,  and  the  Gorilla.    But  Mr.  Barnum 
claims,  that  while  these  special  features  may  not  be  all 
that  the  public  expect,  every  visitor  to  his  exhibi- 
|tion  gets  the  worth  of  his  money  ten  times  over  ; 
jthat  his  million  curiosities  and  monstrosities,  giants 
and  dwarfs,  his  menagerie  and  dramatic  entertain- 
ments, present  a  diversified  and  immense  amount  of 
amusement  that  cannot  be  secured  anywhere  else.  A 
large-sized  baboon  was  at  one  time  on  exhibition  at 
his  Museum.    It  was  advertised  as  a  living  gorilla, 
the  only  specimen  ever  brought  to  this  country.  Mr. 
Barnum's  agents  succeeded  in  hoodwinking  the  press 
to  such  a  degree  that  the  respectable  dailies  described 
jthe  ferocity  of  this  formidable  gorilla,  whose  rage 
was  represented  to  be  so  intense,  and  his  strength  so 


582  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

fearful,  that  he  came  near  tearing  the  persons  in  pieces 
who  had  brought  him  from  the  ship  to  the  Museum. 
Barnum  had  not  seen  the  animal,  and  when  he  read 
the  account  in  the  jPost  he  was  very  much  excited, 
and  wrote  immediately  to  his  men  to  be  very  careful 
that  no  one  was  harmed.  The  baboon  was  about  as 
ferocious  as  a  small-sized  kitten.  The  story  did  its 
work,  and  crowds  came  to  see  the  wonderful  beast. 
Among  others  a  professor  came  from  the  Smithsonian 
Institute.  He  examined  the  animal,  and  then  desired 
to  see  Mr.  Barnum.  He  informed  the  proprietor  that 
he  had  read  the  wonderful  accounts  of  the  gorilla, 
and  had  come  to  see  him.  ^'  He  is  a  very  fine  speci- 
men of  a  baboon,"  said  the  professor,  "  but  he  is  no 
gorilla."  "  What's  the  reason  that  he  is  not  a  gorilla?" 
said  Barnum.  The  professor  replied,  that  gorillas 
had  no  tail.  "  I  know,"  said  the  showman,  "  that 
ordinary  gorillas  have  no  tails,  but  mine  has,  and  that 
makes  the  specimen  more  remarkable."  The  audacity 
of  the  reply  completely  overwhelmed  the  professor, 
and  he  retired  without  a  word,  leaving  Mr.  Barnum 
in  possession  of  the  field. 

THE  THEOEY  OF  SUCCESS. 

Mr.  Barnum's  rule  has  been  to  give  all  who  patron- 
ize him  the  worth  of  their  money,  without  being 
particular  as  to  the  means  by  which  he  attracts  the 
crowd  to  his  exhibition.  He  justifies  his  little  deceit 
in  securing  the  visitor  a  greater  amount  of  pleasure  , 
than  he  bargained  for.  Thus  Warren  sent  an  agent  ^ 
to  Egypt  to  write  on  the  Pyramids,  in  huge  letters, 
"Buy  Warren's  Blacking."    He  knew  the  whole 


p.  T.  Barnum. 


583 


world  would  be  indignant,  but  they  would  buy  his 
blacking.  When  Genin,  the  hatter,  gave  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  dollars  for  the  Jenny  Lind  ticket,  * 
all  the  world  tnew  that  Genin  sold  hats  in  New  York. 
Barnum  offered  the  Atlantic  Cable  Company  five 
thousand  dollars  for  the  privilege  of  sending  the  first 
twenty  words  over  to  his  Museum,  The  notoriety 
would  have  been  worth  more  than  that  sum.  Leonard 
Gossling  came  out  as  MonSo  Gossling,  with  French 
blacking.  He  drove  a  fine  carriage  through  New 
York,  drawn  by  a  splendid  span  of  blood  bays,  with 
"  Gossling's  Blacking  emblazoned  in  gold  letters  on 
it.  Gossling  drove  the  team,  attended  by  a  band  of 
music.  Jim  Crow  ftice  introduced  the  blacking  into 
Bowery  Theatre,  and  was  paid  for  singing  an  original 
blacking  ditty.  As  Warren's  blacking  was  good,  as 
Genin's  hats  were  first-class,  and  Gossling's  blacking 
an  excellent  article,  and  they  never  befooled  the  pub- 
lic to  its  iujury,  no  harm  was  done.  On  this  prin- 
ciple Mr.  Barnum  has  catered  to  public  amusement 
for  over  fifty  years.  He  has  gotten  up  baby-shows, 
poultry-shows,  and  dog-shows.  He  has  ransacked 
creation  for  curiosities,  and  all  the  world  has  contri- 
buted to  the  novelty  and  value  of  his  Museum. 

It  has  not  been  all  sunshine  w4th  Mr.  Barnum.  His 
imposing  villa  at  Bridgepoi-t  was  burned  to  the 
ground.  Anxious  to  built  up  East  Bridgeport,  he 
became  responsible  to  a  manufacturing  company,  and 
his  fortune  was  swept  away  in  an  hour.  The  citizens 
of  Bridgeport,  without  distinction  of  party  or  sect, 
assembled  and  expressed  their  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Barnum  in  his  great  embarrassment^  and  in  "his  ir- 


584  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


retrievable  rum,"  as  they  thought.  But  with  won- 
derful sagacity  he  relieved  himself.  As  a  business 
man  he  has  singular  executive  force  and  great  capac- 
ity, and  would  have  been  successful  in  anything  he 
undertook. 

Mr.  Barnum  has  held  many  positions  of  trust  and 
honor.  He  was  elected  president  of  the  Crystal 
Palace  Exhibition  in  1854.  He  was  appointed  by  the 
governor  of  Connecticut  State  Commissioner  to  the 
Grand  Exposition  at  Paris.  He  was  elected  to  rep- 
resent the  town  of  Bridgeport  in  the  legislature  of 
Connecticut  in  1865  and  1866,  and  later  on  became 
its  mayor.  He  was  defeated  for  Congress  in  1867, 
owing  to  the  reaction  which  commenced  in  Northern 
States  in  regard  to  negro  suffrage.  He  was  an  in- 
fluential speaker  while  a  member  of  the  legislature, 
being  always  distinguished  for  his  practical  good 
sense  and  sparkling  wit.  He  received  a  telegram 
one  day  while  he  was  speaking,  announcing  that  the 
Museum  was  on  fire,  and  that  nothing  probably  would 
be  saved.  He  laid  the  telegram  on  the  desk  and 
finished  his  speech.  He  went  to  New  York  the  next 
day,  and  found  the  Museum  a  pile  of  black,  smoulder- 
ing ruins.  All  that  was  left  was  the  lease  of  the 
land,  having  eleven  years  to  run.  This  lease  was 
sold  to  James  Gordon  Bennett  for  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  cash. 

FAILURE  AND  SUCCESS. 

Men  who  regard  Mr.  Barnum  as  a  charlatan;  who 
attribute  his  success  to  what  he  calls  "humbug," 
clap-trap,"  "exaggerated  pictures,"  and  "pufiing  ad- 


p.  T.  J5AENUM. 


585 


vertisements;'*  who  undertake  to  imitate  him  in  these 
questionable  performances,  will  find  that  the  secret 
of  his  success  does  not  lie  in  that  direction.  A 
wealthy  man,  afcer  repeated  reverses,  he  is.  Whether 
he  would  not  have  been  as  rich  without  the  "clap- 
trap," whether  the  titles  "humbug"  and  the  "prince 
of  humbugs, "  which  were  first  applied  to  him  by  him- 
self as  a  part  of  his  stock  in  trade,  have  not  damaged 
beyond  redemption  his  social  status,  are  questions 
which  I  will  not  stop  here  to  argue.    But  under 
all  the  eccentricity,  jugglery  and  tomfoolery,  there 
was    a  business    intelligence,    tact,    energy,  in- 
domitable perseverance,   shrewdness  and  industry, 
without   which  all   his   humbugging  would  have 
been  exerted  in  vain.     From  distributing  "Sear's 
Bible"  he  became  lessee  of  the  Vauxhall  saloon; 
thence  a  writer  of  advertisements  for  an  amphithe- 
atre, at  four  dollars  a  week ;  then  negotiating,  with- 
out a  dollar,  for  the  Museum,  giving  the  proprietor 
what  he  asked,  a  piece  of  unencumbered  land,  as  se- 
curity, a  mere  morass,  kept  in  the  family  because  it 
was  worthless,  and  nobody  would  buy  it ;  outwitting 
a  corporation  who  intended  to  outwit  him  on  the  pur- 
chase of  the  Museum  over  his  head ;  exhibiting  a 
manufactured  mermaid,  which  he  had  bought  of  a 
Boston  showman ;  palming  off  Tom  Thumb  as  eleven 
I  years  of  age,  when  he  was  but  five ;  showing  his 
woolly  horse,  and  exhibiting  his  wild  buffaloes  at  Ho- 
boken ;  — these,  and  other  smart  things  that  Barnum 
did,  are  well  known  to  the  public.    But  there  are 
things  which  the  public  do  not  know.    Barnum  was 
thoroughly  honest,  and  he  kept  his  business  engage- 


586 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


ments  to  the  letter.    He  cheated  the  proprietor  of 
the  Museum  iu  the  matter  of  security.    The  impres- 
sion he  left  about  "  Ivy  Island  "  was,  that  it  was  a 
valuable  farm  in  Connecticut,  while  it  was  a  mere 
bog.    On  it  he  could  not  have  raised  five  dollars  in 
the  New  York  market,  where  its  value  was  known. 
But  without  that  deception  he  would  have  lost  the 
Museum,  he  argues.    He  kept  his  business  engage- 
ment to  the  letter,  as  he  intended  to  do,  so  his  decep 
tion  did  not  harm.    Once  in  the  Museum,  he  taxed 
every  energy  to  the  utmost  to  secure  success.  He 
adopted  the  most  rigid  economy    Finding  a  hearty 
coadjutor  in  his  wife,  he  put  his  family  on  a  short  al- 
lowance, and  shared  himself  in  the  economy  of  the 
household    Six  hundred  dollars  a  year  he  allowed 
for  the  expenses  of  his  family,  and  his  wife  resolutely 
resolved  to  reduce  that  sum  to  four  hundred  dollars. 
Six  months  after  the  purchase  of  the  Museum  the  ! 
owTier  came  into  the  ticket  office  at  noon.    Barnum  I 
was  eating  his  frugal  dinner,  which  was  spread  before 
him.    "  Is  this  the  way  you  eat  your  dinner  ? "  the  I 
proprietor  inquired.    Barnum  said,  "  I  have  not  eaten  ; 
a  warm  dinner  since  I  bought  the  Museum  except  on  ^ 
the  Sabbath,  and  I  intend  never  to  eat  another  on  a  ! 
week  day  until  I  am  out  of  debt. "    "  Ah,  you  are 
safe,  and  will  pay  for  the  Museum  before  the  year 
is  out,"  replied  the  owner.    In  less  than  a  year  the  I 
Museum  was  paid  for  out  of  the  profits  of  the  es-  i 
tablishment. 

Barnum  deceived  in  regard  to  the  age  of  Tom  Thumb, 
but  his  performances  were  genuine.  The  mermaid 
was  a  cheat,  but  the  show  at  the  Museum  presented 


I 


p.  T.  Barnum. 


687 


more  for  the  money  than  any  exhibition  in  the  coun- 
I   try.    During  the  whole  of  his  career,  Barnum  has  ex- 
hibited a  conscientiousness  that  borders  closely  on 
high  religious  principle.    His  extravagances  were  the 
\  mere  froth  of  the  bottle ;  the  article  beneath  the 
;  foaming  cover  was  genuine  and  stout.    He  believed 
I  in  advertising,  but  knew  well  enough  that  it  was 
money  thrown  away  if  he  had  not  something  to  show, 
j  He  staked  everything  he  had  in  the  world  on  his  con- 
tract with  Jenny  Lind.    He  based  his  expectation  of 
success,  not  on  her  voice  simply,  nor  on  her  reputa- 
tion as  an  artist,  but  her  character  for  extraordinary 
benevolence  and  generosity, — these  he  knew  would 
captivate  the  American  public. 

To  say  that  he  failed,  and  lost  several  fortunes,  is 
only  to  say  that  he  was  human.    His  confidence  in  the 
j  clock  company  was  extraordinary.    It  grew  out  of  the 
i  impulses  of  his  generous  and  confiding  nature,  and 
i  his  desire  to  aid  his  friends  in  building  up  a  part  of 
Bridgeport,  and  make  the  town  prosperous.   But  the 
manner  in  which  he  relieved  himself  from  these  obli- 
gations  and  retrieved  his  fortune,  exhibits  the  pluck, 
i  shrewdness,  and  business  ability  of  the  man.  That 
he  was  shamefully  and  wickedly  defrauded  no  one 
has  any  question.    He  did  not  owe  a  dollar  of  per- 
sonal debt,  and  he  resolved  not  to  pay  the  clock  notes. 
He  considered  any  strategy  fair  to  elude  their  pay- 
ments, and  free  himself  from  the  pecuniary  obliga- 
tion they  imposed.    He  put  all  his  property  out  of 
his  hands ;  sold  his  Museum — over  the  left ;  came  to 
New  York,  and  commenced  "keeping  boarders."  He 
j  lived  from  hand  to  mouth ;  was  arrested  continually 


588  WONDEES  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


on  suits,  and  brought  up  before  the  judges  for  exami- 
nation, all  which  were  duly  chronicled  in  the  paper. 
Clock  notes  were  at  a  discount.  It  was  said  that  , 
Barnum  had  gone  under  so  deep  that  he  never  would 
recover.  The  paper  on  which  his  name  was  placed 
was  considered  fit  for  the  waste  basket  or  the  stove.  ; 
The  notes  were  bought  for  a  song  and  cancelled. 
When  the  last  clock  note  was  paid  Barnum  was  him- 
self again. 

To  relieve  a  friend,  he  went  into  court  and  offered  , 
himself  as  bail  for  the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars.  , 
It  was  a  libel  suit.    Three  of  them  were  pending, 
and  in  all  of  them  Mr.  Barnum  offered  himself  as  se- 
curity. The  lawyer,  desiring  to  imprison  the  defendant,  , 
was  both  vexed  and  impertinent.  He  put  the  showman  ^ 
through  a  course  of  examination.   "  Mr.  Barnum,  are 
you  worth  fifteen  thousand  dollars  ? "  *^I  am, "  was  the 
reply.    "I  desire  a  list  of  your  property  before  you 
are  accepted  as  further  security,"  the  lawyer  said. 
So  Barnum  began  to  call  off  the  articles  of  property 
that  he  valued  at  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  requesting 
the  lawyer  to  keep  an  accurate  inventory.    "One  \ 
preserved  elephant,  one  thousand  dollars ;  one  stuffed  I 
monkey-skin,  and  two  gander-skins,  good  as  new — 
fifteen  dollars  for  the  lot. "    Starting  to  his  feet  in 
indignation,  the  lawyer  cried  out,  "Mr.  Barnum, 
Avhat  are  you  doing  ? "     "I  am  giving  you  an  inven-  i 
tory  of  my  Museum.    It  contains  only  fifty-thousand  j 
different  articles,  which  I  intend  to  call  off,  and 
which  I  wish  you  to  take  down."    The  limb  of  the 
law  appealed  to  the  court.    Judge  Ulshoeffer  decided 
that  if  the  lawyer  was  unwilling  to  take  Mr.  Bar- 


p.  T.  Barnum. 


589 


Inum's  affidavit  to  his  responsibility  lie  must  go  on 
with  the  catalogue.  The  lawyer  decided  to  take  him 
for  bail  without  a  further  bill  of  particulars. 
There  are  no  better  rules  for  business  success  than 
those  laid  down  by  Mr.  Barnum,  which  have  guided 
his  own  course.  Among  them  are  these :  "  Select  the 
kind  of  business  suited  to  your  inclination  and  tem- 
perament ;  let  your  pledged  word  ever  be  sacred ; 
whatever  you  do,  do  with  all  your  might;  use  no 
description  of  intoxicating  drinks;  let  hope  pre- 
dominate, but  do  not  be  visionary ;  pursue  one  thing 
at  a  time,  bnt  do  not  scatter  your  powers;  engage 
proper  assistance;  advertise  your  business;  live  with- 
in your  income,  if  you  almost  starve;  depend  upon 
yourself,  and  not  upon  otherSo " 


CHAPTER  XL. 


JAMES  FISK,  JK. 

THE  ARCHITECT  OF  HIS  OWN  FORTUNE  —  SETS  UP  FOR  HIMSELF  —  MR. 
FISK  AS  A  BUSINESS  MAN  —  THE  OPERA  HOUSE— THE  SEPTEMBER 
PANIC— RUN  ON  THE  TENTH  NATIONAL  BANK — MURDERED  BY  STOKES. 

NOT  more  than  once  in  a  half  a  century  does  a 
man  appear  upon  the  surface  with  the  char- 
acteristics that  marked  Mr.  Fisk.  He  had  no  compeer 
in  his  gigantic  schemes,  his  bold,  multitudinous,  and 
successful  operations,  in  the  executive  ability,  and  the 
success  that  at  one  time  attended  his  movements. 
He  was  influential  in  Wall  street,  and  more  feared 
and  courted  than  any  other.  Vanderbilt  alone  sur- 
passed him  in  railroad  movements.  Some  of  his 
financial  speculations  astounded  the  age  and  shook 
the  continent  like  an  earthquake.  When  he  came  to 
the  surface,  and  persons  asked  where  he  came  from, 
and  where  he  would  end;  for,  like  Alexander,  his 
ambition  was  to  be  unbounded. 

Like  most  men  of  mark  in  Wall  street  Mr.  Fisk's 
beginnings  were  small.  They  were  quite  as  honora- 
ble as  were  those  in  trade,  in  speculation,  and  in  the 
professions  who  speak  of  Mr.  Fisk  as  a  peddler.  The 
same  charge  was  brought  against  John  Jacob  Aster. 
He  certainly  was  a  trader  in  a  very  small  way  when 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  gigantic  fortune.  Van- 


James  Fisk,  Jr 


591 


derbilt  has  not  been  taunted  as  a  poor  boy  trying  to 
earn  an  honest  living  by  sculling  passengers  from 
Staten  Island  to  New  York.  The  perpetuation  of 
those  days  in  the  bronze  testimonial  that  surmounts 
the  Mammoth  Depot  at  St.  John's  Park,  shows  that 
the  Commodore  was  rather  proud  of  his  exploits. 
One  of  the  most  successful  Presidents  of  a  New  York 
bank  came  to  the  city  as  a  poor  lad,  went  into  a  store 
and  asked,  ^'Do  you  want  a  boy  in  your  store,  sir?" 
The  merchant  was  rather  struck  with  the  lad,  and 
said,  "What  can  you  do?"  "I  can  do  anything  that 
an  honest  boy  ought  to  do."  "Take  these  boots  down 
stairs  and  black  them,  then,"  said  the  merchant.  He 
soon  returned  with  the  boots  polished.  The  merchant 
was  gratified  with  the  promptness  of  the  boy  and 
said,  ''You  have  done  the  job  very  well."  "Yes  sir," 
was  the  response,  "my  mother  told  me  to  do  every- 
thing that  I  did  well."  Both  the  merchant  and  the 
then  poor  lad  are  residing  in  New  York.  Webster 
boasted  that  the  first  money  he  ever  had  he  earned 
by  working  on  a  farm,  and  invested  it  in  a  pocket 
handkerchief,  on  which  was  printed  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States.  There  was  too  much  poverty 
in  his  father's  household  to  indulge  him  in  the  luxury 
of  a  candle.  By  the  light  of  a  pine-knot,  which 
blazed  on  the  hearth,  he  committed  that  immortal  in- 
strument to  memory.  Mr.  Fisk  shared  the  honor  in 
common  with  many  eminent  men  in  this  country  by 
working  his  way  through  great  difficulties  by  tact, 
industry,  and  indomitable  perseverance,  to  the  place 
he  held  among  the  financiers  of  the  day. 


692  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

SETS  UP  FOE  HIMSELF. 


Mr.  Fisk  was  near  tliirty-five  years  of  age.  He  was 
born  in  a  small  town  in  Vermont,  near  Brattleboro. 
His  attention  was  early  called  to  tlie  want  of  taste 
displayed  by  country  dealers  in  the  selection  of  their 
goods.  It  occurred  to  him  that  a  large  business 
might  be  created  by  selecting  with  taste  and  judg- 
ment goods  that  were  salable  outside  the  great  marts 
of  trade.  Beginning  in  a  small  way,  his  business 
grew  on  his  hands.  He  met  the  exigency  in  the  same 
style  that  he  ran  the  Erie  road,  and  handled  millions 
at  the  same  Stock  Board.  He  secured  himself  a 
wagon  of  great  beauty,  and  attached  to  it  four  horses, 
that  for  spirit  and  equipage  could  not  be  excelled. 
With  this  team,  loaded  with  goods,  he  traveled  from 
point  to  point,  creating  great  excitement  wherever  j 
he  went.  His  goods  w^ere  selected  with  such  taste 
and  judgment,  he  was  so  square  in  his  dealings,  rea- 
sonable in  his  trade,  and  so  energetic  and  enthusias- 
tic, that  his  own  sanguine  expectations  were  more 
than  realized.  He  was  prompt  in  his  engagements 
and  payments,  and  showed  such  tact  and  energy  as 
to  arrest  the  attention  of  leading  merchants  in  New 
York  and  Boston.  He  was  offered  the  position  of 
salesman  in  the  house  of  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co.,  in  the 
latter  city.  He  entered  upon  his  duties  with  indus- 
try, and  soon  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  estab-  , 
lishment  as  the  best  salesman  in  or  out  of  the  store. 
It  was  but  a  short  time  before  he  was  admitted  to  a  ^ 
partnership.  His  executive  ability  and  far-sighted- 
ness found  here  a  fitting  field  for  their  operation.  On 


James  Fisk,  Jr. 


593 


the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  secured  several  large 
government  contracts  and  brought  to  his  house  the 
specialty  in  vv^oolen  goods  which  have  given  it  so 
much  celebrity.  He  secured  all  the  mills  that  could 
be  obtained  in  New  England,  and  set  them  running. 
While  others  were  croaking  over  the  country  and  ex- 
pecting universal  ruin,  Mr.  Fisk  was  laying  the  foun- 
dation foi:  an  extensive  business  and  a  colossal  for- 
tune. He  purchased  a  patent  in  connection  with  the 
Avoolen  manufacture  that  has  proven  immensely  valu- 
able. His  possession  was  contested.  It  was  thrown 
into  court,  and  he  followed  the  case  from  court  to 
court,  and  from  district  to  district,  at  immense  cost, 
and  beat  his  opponents  at  each  point.  In  1868  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Erie  Board  of  Directors.  On 
the  retirement  of  the  then  President,  Mr.  Jay  Gould 
became  President  of  the  road,  and  Mr.  Fisk  Comp- 
troller. 

MR.   FISK  AS  A  BUSIISTESS  MAN. 

Mr.  Fisk  appeared  in  Wall  street  as  an  assistant  of 
Daniel  Drew.  He  w^as  noted  for  the  sharp,  decisive, 
energetic  manner  in  which  he  performed  his  work. 
To  transact  Mr.  Drew's  stock  business  would  have 
been  quite  enough  for  an  ordinary  man,  but  Mr. 
Fisk  was  not  satisfied  with  this  labor.  He  made 
himself  master  of  the  Narragansett  Steamship  Com- 
pany. This  company  had  two  boats  which  cost  three 
millions.  After  losing  a  great  deal  of  money  the 
company  failed.  In  one  year  after  he  took  possession 
Mr.  Fisk  changed  the  entire  aspect  of  things,  made 
it  a  paying  line  and  the  most  popular  route  in  the 


594  Wonders  of  a  Obeat  City, 


world.  He  could  have  run  twenty  steamboat  com- 
panies as  well  as  one.  He  had  a  systematic  mode  of 
doing  business.  Under  him  every  department  had  a 
head  which  was  made  responsible  for  all  that  per- 
tains to  it.  Every  day  reports  were  made  of  the 
exact  working  of  every  department,  and  by  having  a 
bureau  of  management  he  was  able  to  carry  on  many 
gigantic  enterprises  at  the  same  time.  His  own  work 
was  done  up  daily  before  he  left  the  office.  Every 
account  was  audited,  every  bill  was  considered,  every 
letter  answered.  The  desk  was  cleared  for  the  next 
day's  work,  if  he  had  to  remain  till  morning. 

He  was  Vice  President  of  the  Erie  Road  as  well  as 
Comptroller.  He  found  the  road  in  the  worst  pos- 
sible condition.  The  stations  were  dilapidated,  the 
road-bed  out  of  repair,  the  rails  broken  and  ruinous. 
The  locomotives  worn  out, were  behind  the  times,  and 
insufficient  for  the  work.  The  cars  were  a  reproach, 
and  all  the  equipments  out  of  order.  A  change  was 
immediately  introduced.  From  $8,000  to  $10,000 
were  expended  on  each  locomotive,  and  he  put  320 
of  them  on  the  road.  Palace  cars  were  introduced, 
and  by  the  purchase  of  the  Atlantic  and  Great  West- 
ern Railway  passengers  were  carried  from  New  York 
to  St.  Louis  without  change  of  cars.  The  road-bed 
was  put  in  complete  repair.  Six  hundred  tons  of 
steel  rail  were  laid  down,  and  connecting  lines  and 
feeders  opened  on  all  the  route.  Docks  were  built, 
and  a  new  ferry,  connecting  Jersey  City  with  New 
York.  Station  houses  were  erected,  and  the  whole 
line  put  in  complete  working  order.  The  great  ambi- 
tion of  Mr.  Fisk  was  to  place  Erie  stock  at  par  and 


James  Fisk,  Jr, 


595 


have  it  pay  a  dividend.  He  purchased  a  coal  mine, 
which  supplied  the  entire  road  with  coal  at  a  saving 
of  a  hundred  per  cent.  A  valuable  mine  of  bitum- 
inous coal,  which  was  burned  on  the  road,  yielded  500 
tons  of  coal  a  day.  Two  rolling  mills  were  kept  con- 
stantly in  use  rolling  rails  for  the  Erie  road.  Believ- 
ing expresses  to  be  a  monopoly  that  the  road  should 
enjoy,  he  inaugurated  thirteen  express  companies, 
under  the  direction  of  the  road,  which  did  a  most 
successful  business.  He  placed  first-class  boats,  built 
to  run  on  the  Sound,  to  convey  passengers  to  Long 
Branch  during  the  summer.  These  boats  were  fitted 
up  with  all  the  comfort  and  elegance  of  a  hoteL 
Parties  could  be  accommodated  with  rooms  for  the 
day,  and  with  a  restaurant,  comprising  all  the  luxuries 
of  the  season.  A  pavilion,  600  feet  long,  was  erected 
at  the  Branch  for  the  temporary  accommodation  of 
visitors.  He  handled  these  gigantic  and  varied  en- 
terprises with  all  the  ease  with  which  he  drove  his 
team  in  Central  Park. 

PEESONAL  TRAITS. 

There  are  few  men  in  the  country  that  possessed 
the  executive  ability  that  marked  Mr.  Fisk's  opera- 
tions. He  was  methodical  in  his  business,  and  was 
far-seeing,  quick  in  forming  his  conclusions  and  tak- 
ing his  position.  He  came  to  his  ofiice  at  9^  in  the 
morning  with  the  promptness  of  a  patrolman  on  his 
beat.  He  took  off  his  coat  and  was  prepared  for  his 
day's  work.  There  were  sixteen  apartments  in  the 
Central  Office,  and  by  the  side  of  his  chair  were  six- 
teen telegraph  wires,  so  that  he  could  call  any  person 
into  his  presence  whom  he  wished  to  see.  Telegraphic 


596 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


communication  with  every  station  on  the  Erie  road 
was  made  complete.  Jersey  City  and  Wall  street 
were  also  connected  with  the  Erie  Office.  Letters 
were  read  the  first  thing  in  the  morning  and  answers 
dictated.  It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  Mr.  Fiskto 
dictate  three  letters  at  one  time.  The  Treasurer  was 
then  called  in,  and  by  the  aid  of  the  telegraph  the 
financial  arrangements  were  made  for  the  day.  He 
required  all  reports  from  every  employee  of  the 
Road  to  be  made  to  him  in  writing.  If  a  messenger 
was  sent  to  Jersey  City  on  an  unimportant  matter,  he 
must  report  in  writing.  He  examined  and  paid  all 
the  bills  of  the  department.  He  found  a  systematic 
course  of  thieving  on  the  road  ;  this  he  broke  up,  and 
dismissed  all  employees  engaged  in  it.  Several 
parties  have  returned  to  the  Road  from  $1,000  to 
$5,000  fraudulently  obtained.  Mr.  Fisk  remained  in 
his  office  till  five  at  night  He  left  and  returned  at 
seven.  Letters  and  telegrams  were  placed  before 
him  received  at  the  latest  minute,  which  he  examined. 
A  half  an  hour  usually  sufficed.  If  the  business  was 
not  done  in  that  time,  he  remained  until  it  was  com- 
pleted. He  carried  a  small  memorandum  in  his 
pocket,  in  which  he  noted  in  the  morning  the  things 
to  be  attended  to.  After  the  desk  had  been  swept 
and  the  business  concluded,  he  examined  this  memor- 
andum, lest  something  should  have  been  forgotten. 
His  room  was  guarded  by  ushers.  He  had  two  or 
three  confidential  employees  with  him  constantly.  All 
who  sought  his  presence  had  admission  to  the  ante- 
room. Here  a  card  was  sent  in,  with  the  name  and 
business  of  the  caller.    If  it  was  a  general  matter  he 


James  Fisk,  Jr. 


597 


did  not  see  the  visitor,  but  sent  him  to  the  special 
department  where  the  business  belonged.  If  the 
visitor  wished  an  interview,  one  of  his  private  clerks 
ascertained  the  nature  of  the  business.  These  inter- 
views  generally  were  very  short  when  parties  were 
admitted.  The  rushing  tide  of  business,  clerks  com- 
ing in  from  every  direction,  inquiries  made,  orders 
given,  answers  dictated,  calls  on  Mr.  Fisk  from  every 
direction,  told  the  visitor  to  be  brief.  If  this  did  not 
suffice,  Mr.  Fisk  had  a  way  of  gathering  up  his 
papers  and  calling  the  attention  of  employees  to  un- 
finished matters.  He  was  popular  with  all  who  ap- 
proached him.  There  was  an  enthusiasm  about  him 
that  was  sympathetic.  A  man  of  few  words,  he  was 
courteous  and  affable,  and  would  receive  the  captain 
of  a  coal  barge  with  as  much  kindness  as  he  would 
the  president  of  a  bank.  He  was  very  witty,  and 
had  fine  spirits,  and  when  he  had  overcome  an  opponent, 
his  constant  quotation  was,  "  He  has  gone  where  the 
woodbine  twineth. "  As  Comptroller,  he  had  to  audit 
all  the  accounts  and  examine  all  the  items,  before  a 
bill  was  paid.  His  memory  was  very  wonderful,  and 
he  would  detect  in  an  instant  any  improper  charge 
or  an  item  once  paid.  He  was  very  social  and  genial; 
but  he  allowed  no  familiarity,  even  with  his  most 
intimate  friends,  in  the  business  of  his  ofiSce.  Eela- 
tives,  and  his  most  intimate  associates,  must  do  the 
duty  required  of  them,  or  leave. 

The  charities  of  Mr.  Fisk  were  very  large,  for  he 
was  liberal  and  large  hearted.    He  did  not  give  in- 


598 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


discriminately.  He  heard  of  a  poor  man  in  his 
neighborhood  who  had  been  injured,  and  whose  family 
were  in  want.  By  the  hands  of  a  clerk  he  sent  a 
liberal  sum,  and  gave  orders  that  a  weekly  allowance 
should  be  paid  till  the  man  was  able  to  resume  his 
work.  He  tested  his  employees,  and  was  not  afraid 
to  give  them  a  handsome  gratuity  when  they  evi- 
dently tried  to  serve  the  company.  He  was  a  very 
fast  friend,  and  did  not  forget  the  companions  of  his 
humbler  days.  For  those  who  tried  to  wrong  him, 
defraud  him,  or  circumvent  him,  he  had  no  mercy. 
He  was  abstemious  in  his  habits.  When  it  was 
known  that  he  had  been  elected  Colonel  of  the  Ninth 
Eegiment,  his  enthusiasm  and  liberality  were  so  con- 
spicuous that  three  colonels  of  different  regiments 
offered  to  resign  in  his  favor  if  he  would  accept  the 
positions  they  held.  He  had  the  talent  of  surround- 
ing himself  by  able  men,  and  of  infusing  his  own 
spirit  into  them.  In  the  multitude  of  lawsuits  in 
w^hich  he  was  involved  after  his  connection  with  the 
Erie,  he  made  himself  in  each  case  master  of  the 
situation.  One  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  city 
pronounced  Mr.  Fisk  the  ablest  man  of  the  age.  In 
every  instance  where  his  suggestions  were  carried 
out,  he  was  successful.  Genial,  jovial,  eminently 
social  in  his  tendencies,  he  was  a  martinet  in  his 
office.  He  paid  for  the  best  talent,  and  required  to 
be  well  served.  In  his  official  relations  to  men  he 
bore  himself  as  Frederick  the  Great  did  to  his  boon 
companions  when  the  death  of  his  father  was  an- 
nounced to  him. — "No  more  fooling,  I  am  Emperor." 


James  Fisk,  Jr, 


599 


THE  OPEEA  HOUSE. 

The  Erie  road  outgrew  its  down  town  offices.  The 
management  wanted  all  departments  under  one  roof. 

I  Mr.  Fisk  was  satisfied  that  the  railroad  business 
would  be  carried  on  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city. 
Pike's  Opera  House  arrested  his  attention.  Far  up 
town  now,  it  would  soon  be  the  center  of  trade. 

\  Nearly  all  the  offices  and  clerks  of  the  road  lived  up 
town.  The  telegraph  would  connect  the  managing 
office  with  every  part  of  the  road.  Jersey  City  and 
the  station  at  Twenty-third  street  were  brought  near 
together  by  the  new  ferry.  Mr.  Fisk  bought  the 
opera  house — he  bought  it  as  an  investment.  The 
Erie  Company  were  his  tenants.  The  great  halls  and 
vestibules  were  fitted  up  in  fine  style  for  offices;  the 
plan  was  drawn  by  Mr  Fisk,  and  a  more  elegant 
suite  of  offices  do  not  exist  in  the  city.  The  whole 
business  of  the  road  is  under  one  roof.  The  offices 
are  fitted  up  in  sumptuous  style,  and  are  in  complete 
order.  The  ceilings  are  exquisitely  painted,  and 
comfort  and  elegance  abound.  The  employees  are 
furnished  with  a  dinner  in  the  headquarters,  and  no 
one  leaves  till  the  day's  work  is  complete.  The 
theatre  in  the  opera  house  was  run  by  Mr.  Fisk,  at  a 
profit  of  $1,000  a  night. 

THE  SEPTEMBER  PANIC. 

In  Wall  street,  Mr.  Fisk's  name  will  ever  be  asso- 
ciated wath  the  gold  panic  of  the  24th  of  Septembei', 
1869,  which  I  have  described  elsewhere.  If  he  was 
not  the  originator,  he  was  the  boldest  of  the  opera- 
tors, or  conspirators,  as  they  are  called  on  the  street. 


600  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


The  history  of  that  dark  day  will  never  probably  be 
fairly  written.    The  combination,  having  locked  up 
greenbacks,  tightened  the  money  market  to  the  very 
verge  of  universal  ruin,  controlling  over  two  hun- 
dred millions  in  gold,  the  clique  were  ready  for  the 
attack.    Parties  were  sent  to  the  Gold  room  to  raise 
the  price.  Amid  the  wildest  excitement,  gold  reached 
160.    Three  classes  were  engaged  in  the  work.  One 
class,  regular  brokers,  who  really  believed  their  em- 
ployers would  take  the  gold  and  make  good  theii* 
contracts.    Some  were  tools,  who  only  did  the  bid- 
ding of  their  masters.    A  third  class  were  men  with- 
out repute,  without  honor,  without  principle,  without 
money.    This  class  kept  up  the  clamor  of  bidding 
160,  when  gold  was  selling  at  145.     They  said  they  ; 
were  doing  the  will  of  their  masters.    What  portion  : 
of  gold  could  be  sold  as  it  was  going  down,  the 
clique  threw  oi?  of  their  hands.    Honest  men  met 
their  contracts  and  were  ruined.    The  principal  actors  j 
in  the  transaction  denied  that  they  knew  the  buyers,  : 
or  ordered  the  purchases.    When  the  buyers  were  j 
sought  for,  they  were  not  to  be  found,  or  they  had  i 
failed.    Men  without  a  dollar  at  their  back,  bought 
millions    on  millions   of    gold  on  Thursday  and  \ 
Friday  during  the  panic.     They  had  not  money 
enough  to  buy  a  load  of  coal,  yet  they  had  ability, 
as  the  agents  of  others,  to  cripple  one-half  the  Board 
of  Brokers,  to  stagger  the  banks,  carry  down  some  of 
the  oldest  and  heaviest  houses,  and  ruin  hundreds  of 
thousands.    Parties  in  this  matter  kept  their  con- 
tracts when  it  was  to  their  interest  to  do  so,  and  re- 
pudiated  them   when  against  them.     The  whole 


James  Fisk,  Jr. 


601 


street  reeled.  Few  bankrupts  were  reported,  for 
everybody  was  involved.  Private  settlements  were 
made,  compromises  effected,  and  the  matter  healed 
as  best  it  might  be.  The  brokers,  whose  headquart- 
ers were  the  center  of  the  clique,  and  who  were  sup- 
posed to  be  the  main  agents  of  the  panic,  dictated 
their  own  terms  of  settlement.  Parties  were  glad  to 
settle  anyhow.  They  took  what  they  could  get.  A 
few  were  paid  in  full.  Others  received  a  small  per- 
cent  age,  and  were  glad  to  get  that. 

KUN  ON  THE  TENTH  NATIONAL  BANK. 

Mr.  Fisk's  connection  with  this  bank,  and  his  sup 
posed  control  over  its  funds,  led  to  one  of  the  most 
extraordinary  runs  on  the  bank  that  has  been  known 
I  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.    The  bank  was  known  to 
I  be  the  favorite  depository  of  leading  speculators.  The 

i house  referred  to  above,  as  being  the  center  of  the 
clique  who  run  up  gold,  had  large  deposits  in  the 
bank.    The  men  charged  Avith  conspiring  to  produce 
I  the  panic,  had  become  largely  interested  in  the  stock 
I  of  the  bank,  and  as  every  one  supposed,  would  con- 

Itrol  its  funds  for  purposes  of  speculation.  Mr,  Dick- 
inson, President  of  the  Bank,  kept  his  place  at  the 
head  of  the  institution,  to  protect  the  interests  of  de- 
I  positors  and  stock  holders  who  were  not  in  the  ring. 
The  bank  opened  at  the  usual  time,  ten  o'clock.  All 
sorts  of  rumors  were  in  circulation  the  day  and  night 
before,  in  regard  to  the  management,  the  solvency, 
and  the  funds  of  the  bank.  The  doors  were  hardly 
opened  before  the  banking  room  was  crowded.  It 
was  evident  that  the  excited  crowd  were  anxious  to 


602 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


draw  money  out  of  the  bank.  Checks  were  certified 
and  were  immediately  presented  for  payment.  The 
building  on  the  outside  was  besieged  by  a  great  crowd 
of  persons  unable  to  get  in.  As  customer  after  cus- 
tomer came  out  with  his  hands  full  of  greenbacks, 
anxious  inquiries  were  made  as  to  the  look  of  things 
inside.  The  loans  of  the  bank  were  on  call  chiefly, 
and  M^ere  immediately  called  in.  Greenbacks  were 
piled  upon  the  counter  like  a  hay  stack.  Every  check 
was  paid  as  presented,  and  no  questions  asked.  At 
three  o'clock  the  doors  of  the  bank  could  have  been 
lawfully  closed  till  the  next  day.  But  the  bank  held 
on  its  way,  paying  check  after  check,  till  the  last  cus- 
tomer presented  his  voucher  at  half  after  five.  Mr. 
Dickinson  then  w^nt  to  the  door.  He  looked  on  the 
crowd  numbering  five  hundred  persons — on  the  side- 
walk, in  the  street,  on  the  railing,  in  the  side-street, 
everywhere.  He  announced  that  the  bank  had  con- 
tinued business  from  three  until  half  after  five,paying 
every  check  that  was  presented,  and  ready  to  pay 
more.  He  invited  any  of  the  crowd  who  wished  their 
money  to  come  in  and  get  it.  A  few  accepted  the 
invitation.  The  great  mass  w^hen  they  found  they 
could  get  their  money,  did  not  want  it,  and  walked 
away.  During  the  panic  the  bank  paid  70  per  cent, 
on  all  its  indebtedness  in  greenbacks.  The  heroism 
and  financial  skill  of  the  president  and  ofiicers  of  the 
bank  saved  the  city  from  general  disaster.  Had  the 
Tenth  National  yielded,  there  would  have  been  a  run 
on  every  bank  in  the  city  the  next  day,  and  the  con- 
sequences would  have  been  f  earf uL  The  promptness 
with  which  the  bank  met  all  tlie  calls  made  upon  it, 


James  Fisk,  Jr 


603 


like  the  bugle-call  to  panic-stricken  troops,  recalled 
confidence,  and  restored  quiet  to  the  street. 

During  the  excitement,  one  or  two  incidents  oc- 
curred rather  interesting.  A  stranger  pressed  his  way 
through  the  crowd,  reached  the  door  of  the  presi- 
dent, and  asked  for  that  officer.  Mr.  Dickinson  an- 
nounced himself  as  the  party  sought  fcr.  The  stran- 
ger hailed  from  St.  Louis.  He  said  he  had  heard  of 
the  panic,  and  came  down  to  see  it.  As  a  general 
thing,  he  did  not  think  much  of  panics.  He  believed 
they  originated  in  ignorance,  and  had  seldom  a  good 
foundation.  He  took  from  his  pocket  a  roll  of  bills 
amounting  to  $40,000,  and  offered  them  to  the  bank 
to  meet  the  crisis,  if  the  sum  would  do  any  good. 
Mr.  Dickinson  declined  the  courteous  offer,  grateful 
for  the  expression  of  confidence. 

When  the  run  was  at  its  height,  a  customer  came 
in,  well  known  to  the  president,  and  nervously  in- 
quired how  matters  stood.  "All  square,"  said  the 
frank  and  hearty  president.  "I  have  $40,000  in  your 
bank,  all  the  money  I  own  m  the  world.  I  drew  a 
check  this  morning  intending  to  draw  it  out.  I  know 
you  are  in  trouble,  and  I  do  not  want  to  increase  it. 
If  you  say  it  is  all  right,  I  will  let  the  money  stay, 
for  I  have  great  confidence  in  you. "  He  received  the 
assurance,  and  went  his  way.  Later  in  the  day,  he 
appeared  again  at  the  bank,  and  said !  "  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, $8,000  of  that  money  on  deposit  is  trust  money; 
$32,000  is  mine.  If  you  will  allow  me  to  draw  out 
that  trust  money,  for  I  never  should  forgive  myself, 
if  that  were  lost,  I  will  let  my  own  remain  in  the 
bank."    This  was  done.    The  next  day  he  brought 


604  Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 

back  the  $8,000  and  deposited  it  in  the  bank  A  large 
number  of  others  who  had  yielded  to  the  panic  wished 
to  re-open  accounts,  but  they  were  refused,  the  presi-  . 
dent  stating  that  he  did  not  wish  to  go  through  that  i 
excitement  a  second  time.  i 
Mr,  Callender,  the  Bank  Examiner,  said  there  was  I 
not  a  bank  in  the  city  sounder  than  the  Tenth  i 
National,  and  scarcely  three  that  could  have  stood 
the  sudden  run  made  upon  it,  and  come  out  with  such 
honor. 

THE  END  OF  nSK.  ! 

Not  content  with  railway  and  steamboat  manage- 
ment, military  honors,  Wall  street  speculations,  innu- 
merable lawsuits,  and  other  costly  luxuries,  Mr.  Fisk 
essayed  to  become  a  famous  theatrical  manager,  and  | 
so,  in  addition  to  the  Opera  House,  he  purchased 
'  and  ran  the  Fifth  Avenue  Theatre.    As  a  theatrical 
manager  he  became  acquainted  and  infatuated  with 
an  actress  of  small  ability,  but  very  good-looking,  ^ 
named  Helen  Josephine   Mansfield,  who  speedily  , 
brought  about  his  ruin.    After  lavishing  large  sums  | 
of  money  upon  this  woman,  he  unfortunately  intro- 
duced to  her  one  of  his  friends,  Edward  S.  Stokes,  | 
with  whom  Fisk  had  had  some  business  operations. 
Stokes  was  a  fine  looking  young  fellow  of  thirty,  and 
the  fickle  Helen  soon  transferred  her  affections  and  | 
attentions  from  Fisk  to  Stokes.  The  pair  then  began 
to  attempt  to  fleece  Fisk,  though  Stokes  claimed  to 
have  been  swindled  out  of  $200,000  by  Fisk,  and  , 
brought,  and  lost,  a  suit  to  recover  it.    Then  Fisk 
charged  Stokes  with  fraud  and  had  him  locked  up. 


James  Fisk,  Jr. 


605 


Stokes  next  sued  Fisk  for  false  imprisonment,  and  for 
nearly  two  years  fouglit  Fisk  in  the  courts,  expend- 
ing nearly  $38,000  on  lawyers.  Stokes  endeavored 
to  procure  the  publication  of  Fisk's  love  letters  to 
Mansfield,  but  was  enjoined  by  the  court,  and  a  rumor 
that  Fisk  intended  to  proceed  against  him  for  black- 
mailing prompted  him,  no  doabt,  to  remove  so  dan- 
gerous an  antagonist.  On  the  afternoon  of  Saturday, 
January  6,  1872,  he  found  Fisk  at  the  Grand  Central 
Hotel,  and  w^ithout  a  word  of  warning  fired  three 
shots  at  him,  one  of  which,  striking  in  the  abdo- 
men, proved  fatal,  and  Fisk  died  the  next  day. 

The  excitement  in  the  city  and  throughout  the 
country  was  intense.  Stokes  w^as  promptly  arrested, 
speedily  tried,  and  summarily  convicted  of  murder  in 
the  first  degree,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  But 
bills  of  exceptions,  and  money  without  stint,  which 
seems  to  have  been  furnished  to  Stokes  to  pay 
lawyers,  brought  two  more  trials,  and  after  nearly 
two  years'  residence  in  the  Tombs,  Stokes  was  sen- 
tenced to  four  years'  imprisonment  in  Sing  Sing, 
and  passed  the  time  there,  excepting  the  last  three 
months,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Auburn.  He 
claimed  to  have  spent  nearly  $300,000  on  lawyers  and 
for  "privileges"  during  his  imprisonment.  He 
came  out  a  grey-haired,  prematurely  old  man,  and 
after  a  happy  hit  in  oil,  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
Hoffman  House  and  started  the  finest  bar-room  in 
the  world.  The  miserable  Mansfield  fled  to  Paris, 
where  she  soon  expended  her  ill-gotten  gains  and 
lived  in  great  wretchedness.  The  tragic  "taking-off " 
of  Fisk  made  him  a  hero  even  in  his  death.    His  en- 


606  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


tire  regiment  accompanied  Lis  remains  to  Brattle- 
boro',  Vt.,  where  lie  was  born  and  where  he  was  bur- 
ied. For  weeks  the  newspapers  were  filled  with 
the  swindles  and  scandals  of  his  later  life  in  New 
York,  but  there  were  thousands  who  had  been  bene- 
fited by  him  who  remembered  his  many  kind  and 
charitable  deeds.  Altogether  he  was  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  men  of  the  time.  With  little  education, 
he  had  great  talent,  misdirected  talent,  which  ought 
to  have  made  him  prominent  in  almost  any  position 
in  life.  The  post  mortem  revealed  that  his  brain 
weighed  fifty-eight  ounces,  the  average  weight  being j 
only  forty-three  ounces.  With  his  death,  his  sup-| 
posed  great  private  fortune  seems  to  have  melted 
away,  chough  his  widow,  who  resided  in  Boston,  se- 
cured something  handsome  from  the  wreck.  j 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


COMMODORE  VANDERBILT. 

j  VANDERBILT  AND  COLLINS  —  THE  HUDSON  RIVER  RAILROAD  —  VANDER- 
I  BILT's  REVENGE — VANDERBILT  IN  HIS  OFFICE — PERSONAL  INCIDENTS 
I        — RAILROAD   SLAUGHTER — PERSONAL — VANDERBILT  AND  HIS  HORSES. 

C'  OKNELIUS  VANDERBILT  was  born  on 
Staten  Island.  He  started  lile  a  penniless 
boy,  with  a  strong  arm  and  resolute  heart.  The 
bronze  memorial  of  the  great  station  house  in  St. 
John's  Park  contains  no  prouder  souvenir  of  the 
Commodore  than  that  portion  which  represents  him 
as  a  resolute  lad,  pushing  his  ferry-boat  from  the 
beach  of  Staten  Island  rowing  his  passengers  to 
New  York,  and  collecting  his  first  earnings  from  his 
patrons.  He  began  life  poor,  but  with  his  first 
freight  he  adopted  the  cash  principle,  on  which  he 
later  on  transacted  his  gigantic  business.  In  his 
heaviest  transaction  he  paid  cash  for  everything. 
With  eighty-millions  at  his  command  he  could  pur- 
chase a  controlling  interest  in  any  road  or  stock  he 
pleased.  He  gave  his  name  to  the  great  stocks  of  the 
exchange.  If  he  wished  a  rise  he  bought  up  all  that 
was  offered ;  if  he  wished  to  break  the  market  he 
had  only  to  throw  his  stocks  on  it  and  the  work  was 
done.    He  was  admitted  to  be  a  man  of  surpassing 


608 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


,  executive  ability,  one  of  the  boldest  and  most  success- 
ful operators  in  the  country.    He  took  Harlem  when 
it  was  a  stench  in  the  public  nostrils  and  made  it  a  . 
road  of  value. 

VANDEEBILT  AND  COLLINS. 

The  Commodore's  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond 

when  it  was  fairly  given.    He  was  equally  exact  in  , 

fulfilling  his  threats.  He  thought  himself  wronged  | 
in  the  Schuyler  frauds — he  took  a  vow  that  he  would 

be  paid  one  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar.  He  pursued  | 
his  purpose  for  years  with  the  instinct  of  an  Indian. 

He  attained  his  end  at  the  last.  He  built  a  line  ocean  i 

steamship.    Collins'  line  was  then  in  its  glory.    CoL  | 

lins  was  subsidized,  haughty  and  imperious.    One  of  ^ 

the  steamers  of  his  line  w^as  disabled.    Vanderbilt  ' 

I 

wanted  to  try  his  hand  at  carr3^ing  the  mails.  He 
visited  Collins  and  made  an  oifer  to  put  his  ship,  all  ^ 
ready,  in  the  place  of  the  disabled  steamship.    He  ' 
would  charge  Collins  nothing  for  the  use,  and  would 
take  the  vessel  ofE  as  soon  as  Collins'  steamer  was  , 
ready.    The  owner  of  the  line  was  afraid  if  Mr.  Van- 
derbilt got  in  at  all  it  would  be  difficult  to  get  him 
out.    He  treated  the  Commodore  very  cavalierly,  j 
peremptorily  declined  the  proposal,  and  turned  to  his  | 
business.    Vanderbilt  looked  at  him  from  head  to  ! 
foot  and  then  told  Collins  that  the  time  Would  come  i 
when  he  w^ould  be  very  glad  to  come  to  him  and  beg 
for  assistance.    With  Vanderbilt,  to  resolve  was  to 
do.    Personally,  and  through  his  friends,  he  immedi-  , 
ately  assailed  Congress  on  the  subsidy — he  offered  to  , 
carry  the  mail  without  a  bonus  and  at  a  cheap  rate.  , 


Commodore  Vanderbilt. 


609 


He  pursued  his  purpose  till  he  drove  the  Collins'  line 
fi'om  the  ocean  as  he  said  he  would.  Vanderbilt  be- 
came the  great  king  of  Wall  street  and  Collins  was 
nowhere. 

THE  HUDSON  EIVEE  RAILEOAD. 

The  attempt  to  make  anything  out  of  the  poor,  for- 
saken and  miserable  Harlem  Railroad,  excited  laugh- 
ter on  the  street.  The  Hudson  River  Railroad  was 
the  pet  railroad  of  the  board.  It  was  a  genteel  affair, 
and  run  by  the  snobby  financiers  of  the  State.  Mr. 
Sloan  was  president,  and  a  very  aristocratic  president 
he  was.  Vanderbilt  was  not  as  well  known  on  the 
street  as  he  was  afterward.  His  enterprise  ruled  by 
his  energy,  a  daring  steamboat  captain,  blowing 
steamboats  up  on  the  North  River,  and  ruining  lines 
on  the  Sound  by  his  sharp  opposition,  colliding  with 
Collins,  and  threatening  the  New  Haven  road,  were 
about  all  the  street  knew  of  Vanderbilt  or  cared  to 
know.  He  appeared  before  Mr.  Sloan  in  his  ofiice  at 
the  Hudson  road  station.  Sloan  was  supercilious  and 
snubbed  his  visitor.  Vanderbilt  informed  the  presi- 
dent that  he  would  soon  be  his  master.  He  obtained 
a  controlling  interest,  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
road,  gave  the  working  oar  to  his  son  as  vice  presi- 
dent ;  put  his  two  sons-in-law  on  the  board ;  made  his 
broker  one  of  the  directors,  and  swept  the  concern 
fi'om  New  York  to  Albany.  To  make  the  work  com- 
plete, he  put  into  his  tin  box  a  controlling  interest  in 
the  roads  tributary  to  the  Central,  and  then  laid  his 
hands  on  that  great  artery  and  brought  all  the  roads 
under  one  depot  at  Albany.  At  eighty  years  of  age 
he  was  the  sharpest  business  man  in  the  city.  His 


610 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


investment  in  the  St.  John's  Park  for  a  station  brought 
two  millions  of  value  to  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  ^ 
On  Forty-second  street,  in  New  York,  he  built  a  great  j 
depot  covering  acres.  The  Hudson,  the  Harlem,  the  , 
Central,  and  the  great  lines  of  the  West,  and  the  New  , 
York  and  New  Haven  were  thus  brought  under  one 
roof. 

vanderbilt's  revenge. 

Vanderbilt  was  never  once  "thrown"  after  he  com- 
menced  his  stock  speculations.    When  he  first  ap- 
peared on  the  street,  stock  men  treated  him  with  no 
consideration  or  fairness.    Before  he  could  get  a  foot- 1 
hold,  he  had  to  submit  to  galling  indignities.  He 
was  obliged  to  bring  his  stock  into  the  street  and  j 
have  it  locked  up  under  the  charge  of  other  parties. 
Combinations  and  conspiracies  were  formed  to  slaugh- 1 
ter  him.    In  every  case  his  gain  was  a  decided  vie-  I 
tory,  and  he  slaughtered  his  enemies.    Those  who  | 
called  him  sharp,  shrewd,  unscrupulous  in  carrying  I 
his  points,  admitted  he  was  fair,  true,  and  reliable 
when  men  treated  him  well,  and  never  turned  his  • 
back  on  his  friends.    He  made  fortunes  for  more  j 
persons  than  any  other  man  in  Wall  street. 

During  the  war,  a  man  that  had  held  a  subordi- 1 
nate  position  for  many  years  under  him,  was  called  j 
into  the  office  one  morning  and  the  Commodore  told  j 
him  that  one  of  his  steamers  was  ready  for  sea.  She  j 
was  fitted  up  for  carrying  passengers  between  the  . 
points  at  the  South  occupied  by  the  army.  Vander-  j 
bilt  told  his  employ^  that  he  might  take  that  vessel  j 
atid  run  it.    He  would  charge  him  nothing  but  the  j 


Commodore  Vandeebilt. 


611 


actual  cost.  It  was  an  opportunity  to  make  a  for- 
tune which  seldom  occurs.  The  proposal  staggered 
the  man,  and  he  went  home  to  consult  his  wife.  The 
next  morning  h^  met  the  Commodore  and  declined 
the  projDOsal.  He  had  been  a  clerk  many  years,  and 
had  lived  comfortably  on  his  little  salary,  and  his 
wife  did  not  like  the  idea  of  his  assuming  so  heavy  a 
responsibility.  The  Commodore  looked  at  him,  and 
J  in  the  doric  language  he  was  accustomed  to  use  when 

I  excited  said,  "  You're  a  fool,  go  and  sweep  the 

front  office." 

j  It  was  charged  that  Vanderbilt  was  very  arbitrary, 
and  rode  rough  shod  over  small  men ;  that  he  was  im- 
perious, autocratic,  and  deranged  the  market  when  he 
pleased.  But  the  street  forgot  how  they  treated 
Vanderbilt  when  he  first  came  to  the  surface  as  a 
financier ;  how  they  snubbed  him ;  how  rudely  they 
treated  him,  and  what  indignities  they  heaped  upon 
him,  and  how,  even  afterward,  as  far  as  they  dared, 
men  conspired  against  him.  Dog  will  not  eat  dog 
they  say,  but  bull  will  eat  bull,  and  bear  will  eat 
bear  in  Wall  street.  Clique  will  devour  clique,  and 
conspirators  will  form  new  combinations  to  destroy 
their  associates.    As  an  illustration  : 

A  large  house  in  the  street  were  carrying  with 
Vanderbilt  a  great  quantity  of  stocks.  The  house 
attempted  to  play  a  little  sharp  practice  on  Vander- 
bilt. He  instantly  threw  the  whole  of  his  Lake 
Shore  property  on  the  market  which  carried  the  house 
down,  creating  a  failure  disastrous  and  humiliating 
in  the  extreme.  A  man  who  can  ride  down  town  in 
the  morning,  visit  a  dozen  banks  and  say  to  each,  I 


612 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


shall  want  some  money  in  a  week  or  two,  how  much 
can  I  have? — here  are  my  securities.    I  will  take  it 
now,  I  don't  know  when  I  shall  want  it,  and  in  this, 
way  lock  up  ten  or  twenty  millions,  is  not  to  be  tri-i 
fled  with  by  ordinary  men.  1 

VANDERBILT  IN  HIS  OFFICE.  i 

Prom  nine  to  eleven  the  Commodore  was  in  hisj 
up-town  office;  at  one,  in  his  down-town  office.  Be-j 
tween  these  hours  he  visited  the  Harlem  and  Hudson | 
River  stations.    When  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  he 
was  as  erect  as  a  warrior.    He  was  tall,  very  slim, 
genteel  in  his  make-up,  with  a  nne  presence,  hair, 
white  as  the  driven  snow,  and  came  up  to  one's  ideaj 
of  a  fine  merchant  of  the  olden  time.    He  was  one! 
of  the  shrewdest  merchants,  prompt  and  decided.  In 
one  of  the  down-town  mansions,  where  the  aristo-j 
cracy  used  to  reside,  he  had  his  place  of  business.! 
He  drove  down  through  Broadway  in  his  buggy  j 
drawn  by  his  favorite  horse,  celebrated  for  his  white  | 
feet,  one  of  the  fleetest  in  the  city,  which  no  money 
could  buy.    His  office  consisted  of  a  single  room, 
quite  large,  well  furnished,  and  adorned  with  pictures 
of  favorite  steamboats,  ferry  boats,  and  ocean  steam- 
ers. The  entrance  to  the  office  was  through  a  narrow i 
hall-way,  which  was  made  an  outer  room  for  his  con-i 
fldential  clerk.    He  saw  personally  all  who  called,  j 
rising  to  greet  the  comer,  and  seldom  sitting  till  the  j 
business  was  done  and  the  visitor  gone.    But  for  this- 
he  would  have  been  bored  to  death.    His  long  con-j 
nection  with  steamboats  and  shipping  brought  to  j 
him  men  from  all  parts  of  the  world  who  had  patents,! 


Commodore  Vandebbilt. 


613 


inventions,  and  improvements,  and  who  wished  his 
indorsement.  If  a  man  had  anything  to  sell,  he  set- 
tled the  contract  in  a  very  few  words.  The  visitor 
addressed  the  Commodore,  saying :  "  I  have  a  stock 
of  goods  for  sale ;  what  will  you  give  ? "  A  half  dozen 
sharp  inquiries  were  made,  and  a  price  named.  The 
seller  would  demur,  announcing  that  such  a  price 
would  ruin  him.  "  I  don^t  want  your  goods.  What 
(lid  you  come  here  for  if  you  did  not  want  to  sell? 
If  you  can  get  more  for  your  goods,  go  and  get  it." 
Not  a  moment  of  time  was  wasted,  not  a  cent  more 
offered ;  and  if  the  man  left  with  the  hope  of  getting 
a  better  price,  and  returned  to  take  the  first  offer,  he 
did  not,  probably,  sell  the  goods  at  all. 

PERSONAL  INCIDENTS. 

Mr.  Vanderbilt  lived  in  a  down-town  location.  It 
Avas  once  very  fashionable.  It  was  near  the  New 
York  University  ;  a  very  large  but  very  plain  brick 
mansion;  a  good  type  of  the  dwellings  of  the  million- 
aires of  the  old  school,  before  the  jaunty  freestone 
houses,  with  their  florid  painting  and  gaudy  trim- 
mings, came  into  vogue.  Everything  about  it  was 
solid,  substantial,  comfortable.  But  there  was  no 
North  River  steamboat  about  the  fitting  up.  His 
stables  were  in  his  yard.  They  were  unrivaled  for 
convenience  and  comfort.  He  had  also  a  small  trot- 
ting course,  around  which  he  drove  in  rainy  weather, 
when  his  horses  were  exercised  and  their  speed  ex- 
hibited. He  rose  early,  took  a  plain  breakfast,  and 
then  spent  an  hour  in  his  stables,  after  which  he  went 
to  his  ofiice.    What  he  called  business  consisted  in 


614 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


riding.    Every  afternoon  lie  was  seen  at  Central 
Park,  and  on  the  road  where  fast  nags  are  put  to 
tlieir  mettle.    His  great  passion  was  for  horse  flesh.  . 
He  handled  his  own  team,  and  was  the  best  driver,  , 
except  Bonner,  in  the  state.    He  had  the  fastest  , 
team   in   the   state   till    Bonner's  Flathush  Maid  j 
and   her    companion    distanced    all    competitors.  ' 
The   Commodore   swept   the   horizon   after    that  ' 
for   a   fast   team.      He    kept    a   standing   ofPer  | 
of  ten  thousand  dollars  for  one  of  the  required  speed.  | 
He  would  give  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  own  the  j 
leading  team  of  the  city.    He  was  a  most  daring 
driver;  and  to  see  him  on  the  road  with  his  flying  ; 
steeds,  passing   everything,  distancing    everything,  . 
cool,  erect,  and  skillful,  one  would  hardly  suppose  he  t 
was  eighty  years  of  age.    Once  upon  a  time  he  in- 
vited a  friend  to  ride  with  him.     He  proposed  to 
cross  Harlem  railroad.     An  express  train  was  in  \ 
sight.    In  spite  of  remonstrance,  he  gave  the  well-  j 
known  word,  and  his  steeds  started  with  the  fleetness  \ 
of  deers.    The  wheels  had  scarcely  left  the  track 
when  whiz  went  the  locomotive  by  as  on  the  wings 
of  the  wind,  lifting  the  hats  of  Vanderbilt  and  his 
friend  by  the  current  which  it  created.    "There  is  | 
not  another  man  in  New  York  that  could  do  that !" 
the  Commodore  said.    "And  you  will  never  do  it 
again  with  me  in  your  wagon  ! "  the  friend  replied. 

EAILKOAD  SLAUGHTER. 

Turning  from  steamboats,  Mr.  Vanderbilt  became 
interested  in  railroads.  So  great  was  his  success, 
that  he  controlled  the  stock  market  when  he  would. 


Commodore  Vanderbilt. 


615 


An  attempt  was  made  to  break  him  down  by  corner- 
ing the  stock.  He  wanted  to  consolidate  the  Harlem 
railroad  with  the  Hudson.  Enough  of  the  legislature 
was  supposed  to  have  been  secured  to  carry  the 
measure.  The  parties  who  had  agreed  to  pass  the 
bill  intended  to  play  foul.  Besides  this,  they  thought 
they  would  indulge  in  a  little  railroad  speculation. 
They  sold  Harlem,  to  be  delivered  at  a  future  day 
right  and  left.  These  men  let  their  friends  into  the 
secret,  and  allowed  them  to  speculate.  Clear  on  to 
Chicago  there  was  hardly  a  railroad  man  who  was 
not  selling  Harlem  short.  The  expected  consolida- 
tion ran  the  stock  up.  The  failure  of  the  project 
would,  of  course,  run  it  down.  A  few  days  before 
the  vote  was  taken,  some  friends  called  upon  Commo- 
dore Vanderbilt,  and  gave  him  proof  that  a  con- 
spiracy existed  to  ruin  him,  if  possible,  in  this  matter 
of  consolidation.  He  took  all  the  funds  he  could  com- 
mand, and,  with  the  aid  of  his  friends,  bought  all  the 
Harlem  stock  that  could  be  found,  and  locked  it  up 
in  his  safe.  True  to  the  report,  the  bill  was  rejected. 
The  men  who  had  pledged  themselves  for  it  openly 
and  unblushingly  voted  against  it.  They  waited 
anxiously  for  the  next  morning,  when  they  expected 
their  fortune  would  be  made  by  the  fall  of  Harlem. 
But  it  did  not  f  alL  To  the  surprise  of  everybody 
the  first  day  it  remained  stationary.  Then  it  began 
to  rise  steadily,  to  the  consternation  and  terror  of 
speculators.  There  was  no  stock  to  be  had  at  any 
price.  Men  were  ruined  on  the  right  hand  and  on 
the  left.  Fortunes  were  swept  away,  and  the  cries  of 
the  wounded  were  heard  all  up  and  down  the  Central 


616 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


road.  An  eminent  railroad  man  near  Albany,  worth 
quite  a  pretty  fortune,  who  confidently  expected  to 
make  fifty  thousand  dollars  by  the  operation,  became 
penniless.  One  of  the  sharpest  and  most  successful 
operators  in  New  York  lost  over  two  hundred  thous- 
and dollars,  which  he  refused  to  pay,  on  the  ground 
of  conspiracy.  His  name  was  immediately  stricken 
from  the  Stock  Board,  which  brought  him  to  his 
senses.  He  subsequently  settled.  Thousands  were 
ruined.  But  Vanderbilt  made  money  enough  out  of 
this  attempt  to  ruin  him,  to  pay  for  all  the  stock  he 
owned  in  the  Harlem  Road. 

When  he  first  got  possession  of  the  Harlem,  there 
was  a  strong  feeling  of  hostility  against  him  mani- 
fested by  the  Hudson  River  Road.    The  Commodore 
was  snubbed  by  the  aristocracy  that  controlled  the 
Hudson.    It  was  a  great  political  machine,  ruled  by  ^ 
a  ring.    He  told  the  managers  to  be  civil,  or  he  would  | 
make  them  trouble.    The  managers  laughed  at  the  j 
idea.    The  first  thing  they  knew,  at  one  of  their  an- 
nual meetings,  was  that  Samuel  Sloane,  the  old  presi- ; 
dent,  was  turned  out,  and  Tobin,  Vanderbilt's  right  \^ 
hand  man,  put  in  his  place.    From  that  hour  to  this 
a  Vanderbilt  has  controlled  both  the  Hudson  and 
Harlem  Roads.    Tobin  soon  became  unmindful  of 
the  power  that  made  him.    He  refused  to  obey  the 
dictation  of  his  chief,  and,  confident  of  his  position, 
set  up  for  himself.    He  was  soon  removed,  and  Mr. 
Vanderbilt's  son,  William  H.,  was  put  in  his  place. 

PEESONALS. 

For  years  Vanderbilt  and  Drew  moved  together. 


Commodore  Vanderbilt.  617 


If  money  was  wanted  for  any  operation,  Drew  fur- 
nished one-half,  Vanderbilt  the  other.  Parties  who 
obtained  the  assistance  of  Drew  in  any  operation 
were  sure  to  get  Vanderbilt, — partly  because  these 
heavy  operators  moved  in  harmony,  partly  to  keep 
watch  of  each  other.  Drew  broke  with  Vanderbilt, 
and  tried  a  little  financiering  of  his  own  to  the 
damage  of  the  Commodore.  Vanderbilt  instantly 
went  into  the  street,  tied  everything  up,  produced  a 
panic,  and  made  his  enemies  suffer  by  hundreds  of 
thousands.  Often  he  was  involved  in  terrible  strug- 
gles in  Wall  street,  from  a  simple  desire  to  serve  his 
friends.  When  once  in  a  battle,  he  never  gave  up. 
In  the  great  war  with  the  Erie  railroad,  he  knew 
nothing  and  cared  nothing  about  the  issue  of  stock, 
or  any  other  controversy  that  was  going  on.  He  had 
no  part  in  the  legal  proceedings  which  were  instituted 
against  Mr.  Drew.  He  did  not  own  a  share  of  stock 
iuErie;  he  did  not  like  the  manner  the  road  was 
conducted,  and  he  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  it. 
"Should  I  take  my  two  roads — Hudson  and  Harlem," 
said  the  Commodore,  "into  the  street  and  transact 
business  as  Erie  is  transacted,  I  could  ruin  every 
small  broker  on  the  street,  create  a  panic  every  week, 
ruin  thousands  financially,  and  destroy  all  confidence 
in  railroads  as  an  investment. "  He  found  his  friends 
involved,  and  resolved  to  help  them.  A  man  who 
would  be  willing  to  hazard  millions  to  help  his  friends 
from  going  under,  is  not  seen  every  day.  He  went 
to  one  of  the  largest  banks  and  said  to  the  president 
who  was  tightening  the  market,  "Here,  take  this," 
placing  a  large  sum  of  money  in  his  hands,  "let  out 
your  money,  let  the  boys  have  it. " 


618 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


VANDERBILT  AKD  HIS  HORSES. 

His  flowing  hair,  snow  white;  the  ample  white  cravat 
of  the  olden  time,  plain  black  dress,  erect  air,  a  clerical 
build,  gave  Vanderbilt  the  appearance  of  a  university 
professor.    His  voice  was  musical,  and  when  he  was 
not  excited  he  was  very  taking  in  his  conversation. 
Short,  sharp  and  emphatic  in  his  utterances,  he  was 
well  informed  in  public  and  commercial  affairs.  To  see 
the  Commodore  well  one  must  gain  his  confidence,  and 
go  with  him  to  his  stables.    His  love  of  horses  was  so 
great  that  almost  any  one  was  his  friend  who  had 
the  same  taste.    Morissey  presented  Vanderbilt  with 
a  very  fine  horse.    Vanderbilt  accepted  the  gift,  and 
made  the  prize-fighter  and  gambler  a  millionaire  and 
a  member  of  Congress.    A  clergyman  accustomed  to 
ride  on  the  road  of  a  pleasant  afternoon,  was  a  great 
admirer  of  Vanderbilt's  favorite  horse,  the  Mountain 
Maid.    The  clergyman  was  so  enthusiastic  in  his 
praise  of  the  horse  that  Vanderbilt  presented  the  an- 
imal to  him.    No  one  estimated  the  horse  at  less  than 
ten  thousand  dollars.    At  Saratoga  the  Commodore 
was  an  early  riser — his  letters  of  business  came  at 
night,  and  were  regularly  opened  the  first  thing  in 
the  morning.    Breakfast  finished,  his  answers  were 
given.    A  line  here,  an  order  there,  a  sentence  in  an- 
other letter,  consumed  about  an  hour.     He  kept 
about  him  confidential  friends — they  were  all  horse 
men,  or  lovers  of  horses.    The  answers  to  letters 
being  dictated,  and  the  work  of  the  morning  done, 
consuming  about  an  hour,  it  was  the  custom  of  the| 
Commodore  to  say,  "  now  for  business,"  which  meant 
that  the  parties  were  to  adjourn  to  the  stables,  look 


Commodore  Vandebbilt. 


619 


at  the  horses,  perhaps  harness  up  ana  take  a  drive. 
His  stable  was  in  the  old  style  ;  his  horses  were  kept 
in  the  basement,  quite  warm,  but  dark.  He  was  a 
hard  driver,  and  pushed  his  teams  as  he  pushed  his 
business.  He  drove  a  double  team,  and  sometimes 
used  five  horses  a  day.  His  favorite  horse  Postboy, 
with  his  dainty  white  feet  and  white  face,  which  he 
used  oftener  and  drove  harder  than  any  horse  he 
owned,  was  in  his  possession  ten  years. 

THE  VANDEEBILT  PROPEKTY. 

The  old  Commodore  did  not  notoriously  lessen  his 
wealth  by  giving  it  away,  but  he  did  two  generous 
acts — when  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  gave  the 
steamship  Vanderbilt,  which  cost  $800,000,  to  the 
government ;  and  again,  when,  at  the  instance  of  his 
second  wife,  he  devoted  $700,000  to  the  foundation 
of  the  Vanderbilt  University,  in  Nashville,  Tenn.  His 
will  also  left  $50,000  to  the  Church  of  the  Strangers, 
in  New  York.  During  his  steamship  career,  which  he 
abandoned  in  1864,  his  entire  property  amounted  to 
$40,000,000.  He  was  at  that  time  largely  interested 
in  the  New  York  &  New  Haven  railroad,  and  owned 
the  whole  of  the  Harlem  road.  Soon  afterward  he 
secured  a  controlling  interest  in  Hudson  River  & 
New  York  Central  railroads,  and  consolidated  them. 
This  route,  connected  with  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michi- 
gan Southern,  represents  a  capital  of  nearly  $150,- 
000,000,  of  which  one-half  belonged  to  Vanderbilt 
and  his  family.  When  he  died  January  4,  1877,  his 
property  was  estimated  at$75,000,000  to  $100,000,000. 
Excepting  $15,000,000,  bequeathed  to  his  wife,  chil- 


(]20  Wonders  of  a  Great  Ctty. 


dren,  and  grandchildren,  the  whole  of  this  immense 
property  was  left  to  his  eldest  son,  William  H.  Van- 
derbilt.  This  led  to  a  protracted  contest  of  the  will, 
resulting  finally  in  a  compromise,  with  which  the 
contestants  were  satisfied.  William  H.  Vanderbilt 
was  "a  chip  of  the  old  block,"  capable,  from  long 
training  and  experience,  to  conduct,  control,  and 
direct  the  great  railway  enterprises  managed  by  his 
father,  and  in  his  hands  the  Vanderbilt  property  was 
largely  increased.  He  also  took  up  the  Elevated 
Roads,  and  was  largely  interested  in  them  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  autumn 
of  1885. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 
STEWART,  THE  PRINCELY  MERCHANT. 


THE  DOWNTOWN  STORE — EARLY  CAREER — SENSATIONAL  ADVERTISING — 
HOW  STEWART  DID  BUSINESS  —  STEWART  AT  HIS  WORK  —  RUNNING 
THE  GAUNTLET — THE  AUTOCRAT — A  NAPOLEON  IN  TRADE — SHREWD 
INVESTMENTS — PERSONAL  OF  STEWART — UPTOWN  STORE  —  THE  MIL- 
LIONAIRESS DEATH — Stewart's  projects. 


EW  men  had  more  to  do  with  Wall  street,  or 


were  more  aifected  by  its  operations,  than 
Alexander  T.  Stewart.  He  had  his  own  style  of 
doing  things,  and  "  cornered  "  goods,  sold  "  short," 
"loaded  the  market,"  "bought  long,"  and  carried  on 
trade  in  the  Wall  street  style.  He  began  on  the 
lowest  round  of  the  ladder  in  business.  He  started 
with  a  fixed  resolution  of  being  the  first  merchant  in 
the  land.  Steadily,  patiently,  persistently,  he  pursued 
the  end  he  had  in  view.  Few  merchants  in  New 
York  commenced  business  in  as  humble  a  style.  His 
rules  of  trade  were  peculiar.  From  them  he  never 
departed.  He  always  gave  special  attention  to  small 
traders — the  buyers  of  needles,  pins,  thimbles,  and 
tape.  The  custom  of  the  humbler  classes  was  espe- 
cially sought.  In  the  lower  orders  he  had  unbounded 
confidence.  When  he  attended  personally  to  his  own 
sales,  he  treated  tlie  small  buyers  with  special  con- 
sideration. They  were  attended  to  first — prices  were 
made  reasonable  that  they  might  return  and  bring 


622 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


friends  with  tnem.  All  such  customers  were  sure  of 
getting  a  good  article  and  carrying  home  the  exact 
thing  they  bought.  Mr.  Stewart  said  that  wholesale 
customers  would  buy  where  they  could  buy  the  best. 
To  secure  their  custom  a  merchant  had  only  to  under- 
sell his  neighbors.  A  case  of  goods  opened  and  ex- 
hibited with  the  price  was  all  that  was  necessary; 
but  whoever  secured  the  retail  trade  of  New  York 
secured  a  fortune,  and  it  must  be  attended  to. 

THE  DOWN  TOWN  STOKE. 

To  the  few  friends  who  enjoyed  his  personal  con- 
fidence, Mr.  Stewart  told  the  trials  he  endured  in  con- 
nection with  the  opening  of  his  store  on  Chambers 
street.  He  was  then  comparatively  unknown.  The 
mercantile  community,  and  sensible  men  generally, 
looked  upon  his  investment  as  an  insane  act.  He 
paid  an  enormous  price  for  the  lots,  and  the  outlay 
would  eventually  swamp  him.  Putting  so  much 
capital  into  his  store  and  building  it  of  white  marble 
would  shake  his  credit.  A  man  doing  business  in 
such  an  extravagant  style  could  expect  little  from  the 
street.  Then  the  building  was  on  the  wrong  side  of 
Broadway,  and  customers  would  not  cross  the  street 
to  trade  with  any  one.  The  opening  was  announced. 
The  day  before,  Mr.  Stewart  rode  to  his  home  in 
Bleeker  street  in  the  stage.  No  one  knew  him,  and 
he  had  the  benefit  of  the  general  talk.  The  opening 
of  the  marble  palace,  as  it  was  called,  the  next  day, 
was  the  theme  of  general  remark.  Some  were  friendly 
to  him,  and  some  were  not.  All  concurred  that  the 
store  was  on  the  vsn-ong  side  of  the  street.  Custom 


A.  T,  Stewart. 


623 


was  out  of  the  question.  The  huge  pile  would  be 
known  as  Stewart's  folly — "It  will  hurt  him,"  said 
one — "to-morrow  will  fetch  him,"  said  another.  "I 
am  sorry  for  him,"  said  a  third.  "Fool  and  his 
money,"  etc.,  remarked  a  fourth.  Mr.  Stewart  sat 
silently  anxious  in  a  corner  of  the  stage  and  said 
nothing. 

The  arrangements  for  the  opening  were  completed 
with  that  system  which  ever  marked  Stewart's  busi- 
ness arrangements  from  the  start.  His  clerks  were 
put  in  full  dress.  Those  who  had  not  decent  suits 
were  furnished  by  the  master  of  the  situation.  He 
would  draw  customers  across  the  street,  he  said,  if  he 
hired  twenty-five  negroes  in  livery,  to  carry  them 
over  in  sedan  chairs.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the 
opening  day,  Stewart  arose  and  drew  up  the  shades. 
The  morning  was  dark,  the  whole  aspect  of  things 
gloomy  and  forbidding,  and  the  rain  sullenly  and 
steadily  fell  from  the  clouds.  Stewart  drew  down 
the  curtains,  went  to  another  part  of  the  room  and 
had  a  hearty  cry  over  the  prospect — a  remedy  he 
often  resorted  to  in  trouble.  He  dressed,  resolved  to 
meet  the  occasion  like  a  man.  Ready  for  his  break- 
fast, as  he  was  about  to  descend  he  thought  he  would 
take  one  peep  more  at  the  weather.  To  his  surprise 
and  joy  the  rain  had  ceased,  the  clouds  were  break- 
ing in  every  direction,  and  the  prospect  of  a  magni- 
ficent day  opened  before  him.  He  accepted  it  as  an 
augury  of  success.  In  a  genial  sunshine  he  reached 
his  store.  Crowds  surged  round  the  building,  wait 
ing  for  admission.  The  people  rushed  in  and  filled 
it,  as  water  let  in  from  the  main,  fills  the  reservoir. 


624 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


EARLY  CAREER. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  In 
the  little  town  of  Lisburn  a  few  miles  from  Belfast,  v 
Stewart,  with  Bonner,  Agnew,  the  Brown  brothers, , 
and  other  distinguished  New  Yorkers,  first  saw  the  \ 
light  of  day.    To  two  pious  Scotch  women  he  owed 
his  education.    He  was  designed  for  the  ministry, . 
and  amid  the  turmoil  and  labor  of  his  immense  trade, 
he  found  opportunity  to  read  his  favorite  classics.  If 
not  in  the  ministry,  he  anticipated  the  calling  of  s, 
teacher  as  his  profession.  He  set  up  store  in  a  small 
room  nearly  opposite  the  present  down-town  estab- 
lishment.   His  shop  was  a  little  aifair,  only  twelve, 
feet  front.    It  was  separated  from  its  neighbor  by  a , 
thin  partition,  through  which  all  conversation  could 
be  heard.    The  store  stood  on  what  is  now  known  as 
262  Broadway.    He  tended  shop  from  fourteen  to 
eighteen  hours  a  day.    He  was  his  own  errand  boy,  • 
porter,  bookkeeper,  and  salesman.    He  kept  house  ii^ 
the  humblest  style.    He  lived  over  his  store ;  and  for"^ 
a  time  one  room  served  as  kitchen,  bed-room,  and  '* 
parlor.    His  bed  was  hidden  from  view,  being  en- ; 
closed  within  a  chest  or  bureau.    As  Mr.  Stewart  at- 
tended to  the  store,  so  Mrs.  Stewart  attended  to  the 
work  of  the  house.     The  increase  of  business  de-j 
manded  assistants.    These  he  boarded,  and  to  accom- 
modate them  more  room  was  required.   So  he  added 
to  his  single  room.    He  afterwards  kept  house  in' 
chambers  on  Hudson  street,  his  income  not  warrant- 
ing the  taking  of  a  whole  house.^  His  style  of  living 
was  very  plain  in  his  furniture  and  table.    Hardly  a' 


A.  21  Stewart. 


625 


laborer  among  us  to  day  would  live  as  plainly  as  Mr. 
Stewart  lived  when  he  began  his  public  career.  But 
Mr.  Stewart  always  lived  within  his  income,  whatever 
that  income  was. 

SENSATIONAL  ADVERTISING. 

Mr.  Stewart  began  business  when  merchants  relied 
upon  themselves.  It  was  not  easy  to  obtain  credit. 
Banks  were  few  and  cautious.  Bankruptcy  was  re- 
garded as  a  disgrace  and  a  crime.  Traders  made 
money  out  of  their  customers,  and  not  out  of  their 
creditors.  To  an  accident,  which  would  have  swamped 
most  men,  Stewart  was  indebted  for  his  peculiar 
style  of  business  and  his  colossal  fortune.  While 
doing  business  in  his  little  store,  a  note  became  due, 
which  he  was  unable  to  pay.  A  shopkeeper,  with  a 
miscellaneous  stock  of  goods,  not  very  valuable,  in  a 
store  twelve  feet  front,  had  little  to  hope  from  the 
banks.  His  friends  were  short.  He  resolved  not  to 
be  dishonored.  He  met  the  crisis  boldly.  His  in- 
domitable will,  shrewdness,  and  energy  came  out. 
He  resolved  not  only  to  protect  his  note,  but  protect 
himself  from  being  again  in  such  a  position.  He 
marked  every  article  in  his  store  down  below  the 
wholesale  price.  He  flooded  the  city  with  hand-bills, 
originating  the  selling-off-at-cost  style  of  advertising. 
He  threw  his  hand-bills  by  thousands  into  the  houses, 
basements,  stores,  steamboats,  and  hotels  of  the  city. 
He  told  his  story  to  the  public ;  what  he  had,  and 
what  he  proposed  to  sell.  He  promised  them  not 
only  bargains,  but  that  every  article  would  be  found 
just   what   it   was   guaranteed   to   be.     He  took 


626  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


New  York  by  storm.  He  created  a  furore  among 
housekeepers.  The  little  shop  was  crowded  with 
suspicious  and  half-believing  persons  in  search  of 
bar2;ains.  Mr.  Stewart  presided  in  person.  He 
said  but  little,  offered  liis  goods,  and  took  the  cash. 
To  all  attempts  to  beat  him  down,  lie  quietly  pointed 
to  the  plainly- written  price  on  each  package.  He 
had  hardly  time  to  eat  or  sleep.  His  name  became 
a  household  word  on  every  lip.  Persons  bought  the 
goods,  went  home,  and  examined  them.  They  found 
not  only  that  they  had  not  been  cheated,  but  had 
really  got  bargains.  They  spread  the  news  from 
house  to  house.  Excited  New  York  filled  Mr.  Stew- 
art's shop,  and  crowded  the  pavement  in  front. 
Long  before  the  time  named  in  the  handbill  for  stop, 
ping  the  sale,  the  whole  store  was  cleaned  out,  and 
every  article  sold  for  cash.  The  troublesome  note 
was  paid,  ^nd  a  handsome  balance  left  over.  Mr. 
Stewart  resolved  to  purchase  no  more  on  credit. 
The  market  was  dull,  cash  scarce,  and  he  was  en- 
abled to  fill  up  his  store  with  a  choice  stock  of  goods 
at  a  small  price.  In  that  little  shanty  on  Broadway 
he  laid  the  solid  foundation  of  that  colossal  fortune 
which  towered  to  the  height  of  seventy  millions. 

HOW  STEWAET  DID  BUSINESS. 

Though  Stewart  sold  goods  on  credit,  as  do  other 
merchants,  he  bought  solely  for  cash,  li  he  took  a 
note,  instead  of  getting  it  discounted  in  a  bank,  he 
threw  it  into  a  safe,  and  let  it  mature.  It  did  not 
enter  into  his  business,  and  the  non-payment  of  it 
did  not  disturb  him.    He  selected  the  style  of  car- 


A.  T.  Stewart, 


627 


pet  he  wanted,  bought  every  yard  made  by  the 
jnanufacturer,  and  paid  the  cash.  He  monopolized 
high-priced  laces,  silks,  costly  goods,  furs,  and  gloves, 
and  compelled  the  fashionable  world  to  buy.  Whether 
he  sold  a  first-rate  or  fourth-rate  article,  the  customer 
got  what  he  bargained  for.  A  lady  on  a  journey, 
who  passes  a  couple  of  days  in  the  city,  can  find 
every  article  that  she  wants  for  her  wardrobe  at  a 
reasonable  price.  She  could  have  the  goods  made 
up  in  any  style,  and  sent  to  her  hotel  at  a  given  hour, 
for  the  opera,  a  ball,  or  for  travel.  Mr.  Stev/art 
would  take  a  contract  for  the  complete  outfit  of  a 
steamship  or  steamboat,  like  the  Europa  or  the  St.  John, 
fiu'nish  the  carpets,  mirrors,  chandeliers,  china,  silver 
ware,  cutlery,  mattresses,  linen,  blankets,  napkins, 
with  every  article  needed,  in  any  style  demanded. 
He  defied  competicion.  He  bought  from  the  manu- 
factories at  the  lowest  cash  price.  He  presented  the 
original  bills,  charging  only  a  small  commission. 
The  parties  had  no  trouble,  the  articles  were  of  the 
first  class,  they  saved  from  ten  to  twenty  per  cent., 
and  the  small  commission  paid  Stewart  handsomely. 
He  furnished  hotels  and  churches  in  the  same  man- 
ner. He  could  supply  the  army  and  navy  as  easily 
as  he  could  fit  out  a  steamship. 

STEWART  AT  HIS  WORK. 

He  attended  personally  to  his  own  business.  His 
office  was  a  small  room  in  his  down  town  store.  No 
merchant  in  New  York  spent  as  many  hours  at  his 
business  as  Mr.  Stewart.  He  was  down  early,  and 
remained  late.    Men  who  Avent  through  Broadway 


628 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


during  the  small  hours  of  the  night  could  see  the 
light  bui-ning  brightly  from  the  working  room  of  the 
marble  palace.  He  remained  till  the  day's  work  was 
closed,  and  everything  w^as  squared  up.  He  knew 
what  was  in  the  store,  and  not  a  package  escaped  his 
eye.  He  sold  readily  without  consulting  book,  in- 
voice or  salesman.  Pie  had  partners,  but  they  were 
partners  only  in  the  profits.  He  could  buy  and  sell 
as  he  would.  He  held  the  absolute  management  of 
the  concern  in  his  own  hands.  His  office  was  on  the 
second  story,  and  separated  from  the  sales  room  by 
a  glass  partition  which  goes  half  way  to  the  ceiling. 
Here  he  was  usually  to  be  found.  Else  he  was  walk- 
ing about  the  store,  with  a  quiet  tread,  as  if  his  foot 
was  clothed  with  velvet, — up  stairs  and  down  stairs, 
all  around,  with  a  keen,  quick,  vigilant  eye,  search- 
ing in  all  places  and  all  departments,  taking  in  every- 
body and  everything  as  he  passed. 

RUNNING  THE  GAUNTLET. 

It  was  difficult  to  gain  access  to  the  princely  mer- 
chant. Any  man  who  had  run  the  gauntlet  once  was 
not  fond  of  repeating  the  experiment.  On  entering 
the  main  door,  a  gentleman  stood  guard,  who  said, 
"What  is  your  business,  sir?"  You  reply,  "I  wish  to 
see  Mr.  Stewart."  "Mr.  Stewart  is  busy;  what  do 
you  w^ant?"  "I  wish  to  see  him  personally,  on  private 
business."  "Mr.  Stewart  has  no  private  business. 
You  cannot  see  him  unless  you  tell  me  what  you 
want. "  If  the  guard  was  satisfied,  you  were  allowed 
to  go  up  stairs.  Here  you  were  met  by  sentinel  No. 
2, — a  large,  full-faced,  bland-looking  gentleman, — 


A.  T,  Stewart. 


629 


who  was  Mr.  Stewart's  confidential  agent,  though  at 
one  time  one  of  the  judges  of  our  courts.  He  ex- 
amined and  cross-examined  you.  If  he  could  not 
stave  you  oif,  he  disappeared  into  the  office,  and  re- 
ported the  case  to  his  chief.  Probably  Mr.  Ste^vart 
peered  at  you  through  the  plate  glass.  If  he  did  not 
consider  you  of  consequence  enough  to  invite  you  in, 
he  turned  away,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  and  sent  a 
snappish  refusal  by  the  guard.  If  otherAvise,  you 
entered,  and  faced  the  lion  in  his  den.  His  whole 
manner  w^as  hard  and  repulsive.  He  w^as  of  the 
average  height,  slim,  with  a  decided  Hibernian  face; 
sandy  hair,  nearly  red;  sharp,  cold,  avaricious  feat- 
ures; a  clear,  cold  eye;  a  face  f urrow^ed  with  tliought, 
care  and  success;  a  voice  harsh  and  unfriendly  in  its 
most  mellow^  tones.  He  could  easily  be  taken  for  his 
bookkeeper  or  porter.  He  met  you  with  the  air  of  a 
man  who  was  impatient  from  interruption;  who 
wished  you  to  say  your  say  and  be  gone.  He  lived 
wholly  by  himself.  His  wife  bore  him  no  children; 
he  had  probably  not  a  bosom  friend  in  the  world. 
Some  men  find  their  pleasure  in  dress,  in  dissipation, 
in  drinking,  in  amusements,  in  travel,  in  parties,  thea- 
tres, operas.  Stew^art  found  his  in  hard  w^ork.  Busi- 
ness was  his  idol,  his  pleasure,  his  profit.  He  reveled 
in  it.  Approaching  his  eightieth  year,  he  was  as  in- 
domitable, persevering,  and  enterprising  as  when  he 
commenced  trade. 

AN  AUTOCRAT. 

He  was  a  hard  master,  and  his  store  was  ruled  by 
despotic  law\    His  rules  w^ere  inexorable,  and  must 


630 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


be  obeyed.    His  store  was  regarded  as  the  hospital  • 
for  decayed  merchants.     Nearly  every  prominent 
man  in  his  wholesale  store  has  been  in  business  for 
himself,  and  failed.    All  the  better  for  Mr.  Stewart. 
Such  a  man  has  a  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  can  in-  \ 
flue  nee  trade.    If  he  failed  without  dishonor,  he  was  | 
sure  of  a  position  in  Mr.  Stewart's  store.     No  fac-  | 
tory  was  run  with  more  exactness.    No  package  en-  | 
tered  or  left  the  store  without  a  ticket.    On  one  oc- 
casion ]\Ir.  Stewart  himself  left  directions  to  have  a 
shawl  sent  up  to  his  house,  which  Mrs.  Stewart  was  ^ 
to  wear  at  a  soiree.  He  forgot  to  place  a  ticket  upon 
the  package,  and  to  the  imperious  law  of  the  store 
the  shawl  had  to  yield.    He  regarded  his  employees  ^ 
as  cogs  in  the  complicated  machinery  of  his  es-  | 
tablishment.    A  New  York  fireman  is  quite  as  tender  \ 
of   his   machine.    The   men   were   numbered  and  ' 
timed.    There  was  a  penalty  attached  to  all  delin-  \ 
quencies.    It  took  all  a  man  could  earn  for  the  first  ■ 
month  or  so  to  pay  his  fines.    He  was  fined  if  he  ex- 
ceeded the  few  minutes  allotted  to  dinner.    He  was 
fined  if  he  ate  on  the  premises.    He  was  fined  if  he 
sat  during  business  hours.    He  was  fined  if  he  came  ' 
late  or  departed  early.     He  was  fined  if  he  mis- 
directed a  bundle.     He  was  fined  if  he  mistook  a  ■ 
street  or  number.     He  was  fined  if  he  miscounted 
money,  or  gave  the  wrong  change. 

A  NAPOLEO^^"  IN  TRADE. 

He  invariably  kept  in  advance  of  the  age.  Dur- 
ing the  last  twenty  3^ears  he  ruined  himself,  in  the 
estimation  of   his  friends,  a  hundred  times.  He 


A.  T,  Stewart. 


631 


bought  the  site  for  his  down-town  store  against 
.their  most  earnest  expostulations.  It  was  too  far  up 
town.  It  ^vas  on  the  shilling  side  of  Broadway.  No 
man  could  do  a  successful  business  there.  The  price 
paid  was  exorbitant.  •  The  proposed  mammoth  store 
would  be  the  laughing-stock  of  the  age,  and  would  be 
known  as  "Stewart's  Folly."  As  usual,  he  relied  on 
his  own  judgment.  He  believed  the  investment  to 
be  a  good  one.  He  told  his  friends  that  it  would  be 
the  center  of  trade;  that  on  the  dollar  side  or  on  the 
shilling  side  of  the  street  he  intended  to  create  a  busi- 
ness that  would  compel  New  York  and  all  the  region 
round  to  trade  with  him.  He  was  not  a  liberal  man, 
but  his  donations  to  public  objects  were  princely. 
Tax-gatherers,  national,  state,  and  county,  say  that  no 
man  paid  his  assessments  more  fairly  or  more  cheer- 
fully. If  he  was  hard,  he  was  just.  He  kept  his 
contracts,  paid  what  was  nominated  in  the  bond,  and 
no  more. 

SHREWD  IN^rESTMENTS. 

He  was  a  shrewd  buyer  of  real  estate.  He  pur- 
chased more  churches  than  any  man  in  the  city.  He 
bought  when  the  church  was  crippled,  and  got  a  bar- 
gain both  in  price  and  location.  His  stable  on  Amity 
street  was  for  many  years  the  celebrated  Baptist 
church  where  Dr.  Williams  officiated.  The  Dutch 
church  on  Ninth  street  wanted  a  purchaser.  Several 
appeals  were  made  to  Mr.  Stewart.  He  had  bought 
odd  lots  in  that  neighborhood.  When  the  purchase  of 
the  church  was  complete,  it  was  found  that  he  had  the 
lease  of  the  entire  block,  and  on  it  his  mammoth  up- 


632 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


town  store  now  stands.  Lafayette  Place,  once  a 
fashionable  locality,  was  occupied  by  saloons,  restau- 
rants, gambling-houses,  and  houses  for  boarding.  Gov- 
ernor Morgan  had  a  residence  there  which  he  wanted 
to  get  rid  of.  Stewart  took  compassion  on  him,  and 
bought  the  place.  Persons  wondered  what  Stewart 
wanted  of  that  great  house,  in  that  out-of-the-way 
spot.  Shortly  after,  Dr.  Osgood's  church  was  for 
sale,  on  Broadway.  After  it  had  been  in  the  market 
a  long  time,  Stewart  became  the  purchaser.  It  was 
found  that  the  church  lot  joined  the  Lafayette  Place 
lot,  making  a  magnificent  site,  running  from  street  to 
street,  for  a  huge  store. 

The  leading  desire  of  fashionable  New  York  is  to 
get  a  double  house  or  a  double  lot  on  Fifth  avenue. 
Such  accommodations  are  rare,  and  fabulous  prices 
are  paid  for  land  or  dwelling.  On  the  corner  of  Fifth 
avenue  and  Thirty-fourth  street  stood  a  famous  house, 
occupying, with  the  garden,  three  l^yts  of  land.  It  was 
built  by  a  successful  sarsaparilla  man.  It  was  the 
largest  in  New  York,  built  of  brown  stone,  as  gor- 
geous and  inconvenient  as  an  Eastern  pagoda.  It  cost 
fabulous  sums.  It  was  large  enough  for  a  hotel,  and 
showy  enough  for  a  prince.  It  was  burnished  with 
gold  and  silver,  and  elaborately  ornamented  with 
costly  paintings..  It  was  the  nine  days'  wonder  in 
the  city,  and  men  and  women  crowded  to  see  it  at 
twenty-five  cents  a  head.  The  owner  failed,  and  the 
house  passed  out  of  his  hands.  It  became  a  school, 
with  no  success. 

One  morning  the  residents  of  the  avenue  were  as- 
tonished to  see  a  staging  built  up  against  this  famous 


A,  T.  Stewart. 


633 


pile,  reaching  to  the  roof.  They  were  more  astonished 
when  they  learned  that  this  gorgeous  pile  was  to 
come  down;  that  its  foundations  were  to  be  dug  up; 
that  a  marble  palace  w^as  to  be  erected  on  that  site 
that  would  make  all  Shoddy dom  red  with  envy ;  that 
its  furniture,  statuary,  paintings,  and  adornments 
would  exceed  any  house  on  the  continent.  Many 
lessons  are  taught  by  the  career  of  Mr.  Stewart.  It 
was  worth  while,  on  a  fine  morning,  to  pause  on  the 
Broadway  pavement,  and  watch  the  small  coupe  that 
drove  up  to  the  curbstone,  drawn  by  a  single  horse ; 
to  mark  the  occupant,  as  with  a  light  tread  and  a 
buoyant  step  he  came  from  the  carriage  and  entered 
his  store.  He  was  an  old  man,  but  looked  like  a  young 
one.  He  began  life  penniless,  and  had  rolled  up  a 
fortune  greater  than  that  ever  before  collected  by 
any  one  man.  His  mercantile  career  had  been  an 
upward  one ;  his  whole  life  a  success.  He  had  earned 
the  title  he  wore.  He  was  the  autocrat  of  New  York 
merchants. 

PERSONAL  OF  STEWART. 

Whoever  had  dealings  with  this  remarkable  man 
found  in  him  several  phases  of  character.  He  was 
genial, pleasant,aifable,if  you  wished  to  trade  with  him. 
He  Avas  cold,glassy,stern,hard,if  you  asked  him  to  com- 
promise a  debt.  Few  repeated  the  experiment  of  solicit- 
ing from  him  a  donation.  He  prided  himself  in  telling 
the  truth  to  his  customers,  and  being  severely  just  in 
trade.  He  said  it  had  been  the  annoyance  of  his  life 
to  keep  Jiis  clerks  from  telling"  white  lies,  "from  palm- 
ing off  second-class  goods  as  first-class.    He  exacted 


(334 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  all  his  employees  perfect  obedience.  To  sit  in  the 
store  during  business  hours  was  forbidden.  He  came 
suddenly,  one  morning  into  the  store,  and  found  a 
salesman  in  a  chair  reading  a  paper.  The  man  was 
one  of  his  oldest  and  most  successful  salesman. 
There  was  not  a  customer  present.  Everything  was 
ready  for  the  day's  work.  Mr.  Stewart  was  enraged  at 
this  breach  of  the  rules,  ordered  the  man's  immediate 
discharge,  would  hear  no  explanation,  followed  him 
up  to  the  cashier's  office  to  get  his  pay,  and  was 
angry  with  the  cashier  because  he  was  not  in  his 
place  and  threatened  to  discharge  him  also.  The 
salesman  was  perfectly  astounded  at  the  treatment. 
He  supposed  Mr.  Stewart  was  excited  about  some- 
thing and  that  he  would  think  better  of  it  when  he 
cooled  off.  He  came  down  to  the  store  the  next 
morning  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  Mr.  Stewart 
ordered  him  out  of  the  store  at  once,  and  the  man  be 
came  so  enraged  that  he  knocked  him  down  and 
knocked  out  some  of  his  teeth.  The  affair  came  into 
the  courts,  but  was  settled  by  a  compromise. 

THE  UP-T0W^]N^  STORE. 

J 

A  few  years  ago  Mr.  Stewart  erected  on  the  block 
bounded  by  Broadway,  Fourth  avenue,  Ninth  and 
Tenth  streets,  the  five-story  iron  building  for  his  re- 
tail business,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $2,750,000.  Exten- 
sive manufactories  of  ladies'  clothing  and  other 
goods  were  carried  on,  and  on  the  seven  floors  2,000 
persons  were  employed.  The  current  expenses  of  the 
establishment  in  wages,  salaries,  etc.,  Avere  more  than 
a  million  dollars  a  year.    The  down-town  store  be- 


A.  T.  Stewart. 


635 


came  a  wholesale  establishment,  but  after  Mr. 
Stewart's  death  the  entire  business  was  assembled  in 
the  gigantic  up-town  building.  There  are  several 
branch  concerns  in  various  parts  of  the  world. 

THE  millionaire's  DEATH. 

Alexander  Turney  Stewart  died  in  New  York  A2:)ril 
10,  1876.  At  the  time  of  his  death  his  property  was 
estimated  at  fifty  million  dollars.  The  depreciation 
of  real  estate  in  the  city  since  1873  had  much  reduced 
the  value  of  some  of  his  investments.  He  had  no 
blood  relatives,  and  his  will  gave  the  bulk  of  his 
property  to  his  wife,  who  transferred  the  entire  mer- 
cantile interests  to  Judge  Henry  Hilton,  to  whom  Mr. 
Stewart  also  left  $1,000,000.  With  Mr.  William 
Libbey,  he  carries  on  the  immense  business  of  A.  T. 
Stewart  cfc  Co.  inider  that  firm  name.  Mr.  Stewart 
was  temporarily  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  St.  Mark's 
church,  corner  of  Ninth  street  and  Second  avenue, 
with  the  intention  of  removing  the  body  to  the 
splendid  mausoleum  then  building  in  the  cathedral 
at  Garden  City,  Long  Island.  But  soon  after  the 
funeral  the  body  was  stolen  from  the  vault,  probably 
in  expectation  that  an  immense  reward  would  be 
oifered  for  its  recovery.  But  no  reward  was  offered, 
at  least  publicly ;  though  every  efEort  was  made  by 
the  most  astute  detectives  to  find  the  thieves  and  re- 
cover the  body.  After  months  of  investigation  in  all 
directions,  the  search  seems  to  have  been  abandoned, 
and  the  remains  have  not  been  found. 

Stewart's  projects. 
Stewart's  income  was  more  than  $1,000,000  a  year. 


636 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


and  his  benefactions  were  liberal.  In  1846  he  sent  a 
shipload  of  provisions  to  starving  Ireland.  In  1871 
he  gave  $50,000  to  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  by  the 
Chicago  fire.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  push- 
ing to  completion,  at  a  cost  of  $1,000,000,  the  fine 
structure  on  Fourth  avenue  and  Thirty-second  street, 
intended  as  a  home  for  working  girls.  This  plan  was 
carried  out  by  Mrs.  Stewart,  but  Avas  found,  after 
trial,  to  be  impracticable,  and  the  building  is  now  the 
Park  Avenue  Hotel,  belonging  to  the  Stewart  estate, 
as  does  the  Metropolitan  Hotel,  on  Broadway,  and 
the  Grand  Union  Hotel,  at  Saratoga.  Some  years  ago, 
Stewart  bought  an  immense  tract  at  Hempstead 
Plains,  L.  I.,  and  began  building  Garden  City,  which 
was  intended  to  afford  comfortable  homes,  for  work- 
ing people  and  others  of  small  income,  at  a  moderate 
cost,  or  reasonable  rates  of  rent.  He  left  a  letter, 
dated  March  29,  1873,  addressed  to  Mrs.  Stewart,  in 
which  he  asks  her  to  carry  oat  such  plans  as  he  de- 
signed for  public  charities,  in  event  of  his  failure  to 
complete  them.  In  accordance  with  this  wish,  Mrs. 
Stewart  finished,  at  gi'eat  cost,  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Cathedral  at  Garden  City,  and  the  plans  further 
include  high  schools  for  girls  and  boys,  a  theological 
institution,  bishop's  residence,  chapter  house,  and  all 
the  material  for  a  cathedral  town.  These  buildings, 
with  their  permanent  endowments,  will  absorb  several 
millions  of  the  great  estate.  Mrs.  Stewart  who  only 
died  recently  was  distinguished  for  her  liberal  dona- 
tions to  nearly  all  the  deserving  public  and  private 
charities. 


CHAPTER  XLHL 


JAY  GOULD. 

THE  MAN  WHO  HAS  MADE  MANY  MILLIONS  BY  WATERING  STOCKS  AND 
WRECKING  RAILEOAD  AND  TELEGRAPH  COMPANIES — HIS  EARLY  CA- 
REER— OPERATIONS  WITH  FISK — QUESTIONABLE  TRANSACTIONS — AN 
UNENVIABLE  RECORD — GOULD  ON  A  TOUR. 

THE  time  has  not  yet  come  when  Jay  Gould's 
history  may  be  calmly  and  dispassionately 
written,  nor  wall  it  arrive  until  the  modern  mephis- 
topheles  is  cold  in  death.  Then  it  would  be  well  for 
the  biographer  to  pause  his  pen  a  time  in  order  to  let 
the  courts  sift  and  separate  the  false  and  the  tme 
which  wall  comprise  the  estate  of  Jay  Gould.  No 
living  man  is  so  hated,  feared  and  abhorred  by  his 
fellow  men  as  the  subject  of  this  article.  Were  he 
to  be  gathered  to  his  fathers  to-morrow,  Wall  street 
would  take  a  holiday,  and  the  populace  would  well 
nigh  go  mad  from  excess  of  sudden  joy.  If  there  be 
one  good  thing  which  can  be  said  or  written  truth- 
fully about  Jay  Gould,  it  has  been  hidden  beneath  a 
bushel,  for  lo!  these  many  astute  years. 

Born  in  Green  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1830,  Gould  was 
first  a  rat-trap  peddler,  then  a  surveyor,  and  later  on 
a  tanner.  Failing  in  these  lines,  he  engaged  in  the 
leather  business  with  Charles  M.  Leupp,  in  Ferry 
street,  New  York,  and  did  fairly  well  for  a  time. 


638 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Then  he  went  to  Vermont  and  developed  his  wonder- 
f  ul  financiering  abilities  in  the  railroad  line  through 
obtaining  the  superintendency  of  the  Rutland  Rail- 
road. Gould  married  the  daughter  of  the  heaviest 
stockholder,  a  man  named  Miller,  who  was  also 
largely  interested  in  the  Erie  Railroad.  It  was  about 
1863  that  Gould  made  his  first  pronounced  stir.  He 
went  into  Wall  street  with  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
bought  anything  and  everything  that  he  could  figure 
out  a  profit  in,  and  speedily  became  rich. 

GOULD  AND  FISK. 

Mere  chance,  it  is  §aid,  brought  Jay  Gould  and  i 
James  Fisk,  Jr.,  together.  Fisk  desired  an  ally 
wholly  unprincipled,  Avho  could  strike  out  and  per- 
form Avork  which  he  could  not  degrade  himself  to  do. 
He  watched  Gould's  course  for  a  little  time,  and  then 
sent  for  him.  When  the  men  met,  each  by  intuition 
knew  that  the  other  was  exactly  the  man  he  wanted 
to  be  connected  with,  and  they  at  once  combined. 
They  got  control  of  the  Erie  railroad,  manufactured 
new  stock  by  millions,  ran  steamboats  and  fejTy 
boats,  bought  gold,  and  were  among  the  foremost  in 
bringing  about  the  terrible  disaster  of  Black  Fi'iday. 
Of  course,  both  minted  money,  particularly  as  Gould 
had  the  reputation  of  securing  all  that  was  due  him, 
while  sometimes  repudiating  his  own  engagements. 
But  while  Fisk  squandered  his  hundreds  of  thousands 
upon  wine,  women,  opera  houses,  fast  horses,  and 
fast  living  generally,  Gould  hoarded  his  winnings, 
and  from  $50,000  was  soon  worth  five  millions,  then 
ten,  and  aimed  at  twenty,  perhaps  a  hundred  mill- 


Jay  Gould. 


639 


ions.  Living,  and  staying  most  of  tlie  time  in  retire- 
ment, in  liis  fine  house  in  Fifth  avenue,  the  telegraph 
wires  connecting  his  library  with  the  office  of  his 
down-town  brokers  worked  without  intermission 
during  business  hours,  and  stocks  were  bought,  or 
sold,  or  cornered  as  he  directed.  A  very  few  years' 
operations  made  him  prominent  among  the  mil- 
lionaires of  New  York. 

But  Gould,  Judas  like,  betrayed  Fisk.  When  the 
gold  bubble  which  he  and  Fisk  had  together  created, 
was  bm^sting,  Gould,  it  is  asserted  in  Wall  street, 
escaped  loss  by  quietly  selling  out  his  millions  of  gold, 
and  Fisk  who  had  not  been  let  into  the  deal,  pur- 
chased the  same  and  was  almost  ruined.  In  the  course 
of  time,  being  unable  to  buy  up  all  the  courts,  Gould 
was  driven  out  of  the  Erie  Railroad  and  compelled 
to  make  " restitution"  to  the  Erie  Company  of  six 
million  dollars  worth  of  property.  Any  other  man 
would  either  have  fled  the  country  or  committed  sui- 
cide in  an  attempt  to  escape  such  great  disgrace,  but 
Gould  did  neither.  "  With  his  characteristic  shrewd- 
ness," says  a  modern  historian,  "  he  managed  to  make 
even  this  humiliation  a  matter  of  gain.  The  trans- 
action was  necessarily  kept  secret  until  it  was  con- 
cluded ;  but  meanwhile  Gould,  knowing  that  the 
road's  enrichment  to  so  large  an  amount  would  send 
the  stock  up,  bought  all  there  was  in  the  market. 
When  the  news  of  the  restitution  was  made  public, 
Erie  stock  rose  rapidly,  and  Gould  sold  out  at  an 
enormous  profit.  He  is  said  to  have  cleared  six  mill- 
ions on  the  transaction." 


640 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


RAILROADS  AND  TELEGRAPHS. 

Gotild's  next  railroad  venture  was  in  Wabash.  He 
purchased  worthless  Wabash,  watered  its  stock  and 
made  enough  by  the  transaction  to  purchase  a  few 
more  thousand  miles  of  road.  The  Gould  system  now 
comprises  the  Wabash  Pacific,  Iron  Mountain,  Missouri 
Pacific,  Missouri,  Kansas  tfe  Texas,  and  a  few  minor 
Texas  and  Kansas  lines.  Their  worth  is  only  known 
to  himself.  Only  a  few  months  ago  his  minor  rail- 
road employes  who  were  connected  with  the  Knights 
of  Labor  organization,  went  on  a  strike  for  increased 
wages.  Did  they  win  ?  No,  but  some  of  them  are 
still  in  jail  waiting  trial  upon  charges  of  conspiracy, 
etc.  Gould's  chief  assistant  in  putting  down  the 
strike  was  the  late  H.  M.  Hoxie,  general  manager  of 
the  Gould  railway  system.  While  Gould  would 
cajole  Powderly  and  the  Executive  Committee  of 
Knights,  w^ho  visited  him  in  New  York  and  promise 
them  just  concessions,  Hoxie  would  arrest  the  poor 
devils  of  strikers  out  West.  Between  them  they  all 
but  crushed  the  Knights  of  Lal^or.  Had  Hoxie  lived 
he  might  one  day  have  become  a  powerful  rival  to 
Gould. 

Along  in  1878-79,  Jay  Gould  concluded  that  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  was  a  great  and 
paying  monopoly,  and  in  a  business  like  way  he  went 
to  work  to  gobble  it  up.  He  started  a  rival  to  it, 
naming  the  new  concern  the  American  Union,  Mutual 
Union  or  something  of  the  sort — it  is  quite  probable 
that  he  had  a  finger  in  both  concerns,  for  there  were 
two  companies  of  the  above  name  both  of  which  in 


Jay  Gould. 


641 


due  time  fell  to  Gould's  lot.  lu  the  matter  of  a  couple 
of  years  lie  succeeded  in  combining  with  the  Western 
Union.  Immediately  following  the  combine  he 
watered  AYestern  Union  stock  until  it  increased  his 
lioard  at  least  a  couple  of  dozen  millions.  To-day 
Gould  practically  controls  the  telegraph  of  the 
country,  and  the  cables  of  the  ocean,  and  his  influence 
with  the  Associated  Press  is  large.  He  also  controls 
the  New  York  Elevated  Kailroads,  and  owns  a  palace 
yacht. 

He  has  scored  many  narrow  escapes  from  becoming 
a  newspaper  man.  The  untimely  death  of  Horace 
Greeley,  and  the  building  of  the  extravagantly  ex- 
pensive tall  tower  building  somewhat  lessened  the 
profits  and  depreciated  the  value  of  the  Tribune 
newspaper.  Mr.  "Whitelaw  Eeid,  the  editor  who  suc- 
ceeded Greeley,  was  anxious  to  purchase  a  part  of 
the  paper,  and  William  Orton,  a  large  shareholder, 
and  President  of  the  Western  Union,  was  willing  to 
sell  oLit.  But  Reid  had  no  money,  at  any  rate  not 
enough,  and  Jay  Gould  is  said  to  have  generously 
come  forward  and  advanced  the  cash  to  buy  out 
Orton.  In  1880,  he  also  purchased  the  New  York 
Woidd  newspaper,  Avhich  he  sold  to  Joseph  Pulitzer. 
He  tried  to  boom  stocks  through  the  financial  columns 
of  his  papers,  but  the  dear  public  fought  shy  of  any- 
thing and  everything  which  bore  the  Gould  taint, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  let  journalism  alone. 

Jay  Gould  was  once  assaulted  by  an  angry  Wall 
street  man  and  thrown  into  a  basement.  Threats 
against  his  life  have  been  frequent.  In  the  fall  of 
1884,  when  he  was  accused  of  holding  back  the 


642  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


presidential  election  returns  of  New  York  State  in  an 
endeavor  to  count  Cleveland  out,  through  juggling 
with  the  Associated  Press  and  Western  Union,  a 
couple  of  hundred  of  New  York's  prominent  busi- 
ness  men  met  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel  and  agreed 
to  lynch  Gould.  Tliey  formed  on  Twenty-fourth 
street,  and  were  on  the  eve  of  mai'ching  up  to  the 
Gould  mansion  and  hanging  him  to  the  nearest  lamp- 
post,  when  a  cool-headed  police  sergeant,  who  was 
l)er  son  ally  known  to  the  would-be  lynchers,  threw 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  line,  and  by  earnest  ap- 
peals prevailed  upon  the  reformers  to  defer  their 
13'nching  bee  until  the  next  day,  at  any  rate.  Ad- 
vised of  this  public  outbreak,  Gould  immediately 
telegraphed  congratulations  to  President-elect  Cleve- 
land, the  returns  were  straightened  out,  and  all  Avent 
well.  In  personal  appearance.  Jay  Gould  is  slight 
and  wiry.  He  is  only  five  and  a  half  feet  in  stature, 
and  weighs  only  about  one  hundred  pounds.  His 
dark  face,  hair,  eyes,  and  long  full  beard  just  touched 
with  gray,  form  a  picture  once  seen  never  forgotten. 
He  seldom  goes  into  Wall  street  personally,  prefer- 
ing  rather  to  operate  through  agents.  His  exact 
wealth  is  unknown.  It  may  reach  two  hundred 
millions. 

GOULD  ON  A  TOUE. 

On  first  thought  it  seems  almost  impossible  that 
Jay  Gould  has  only  been  a  railroad  magnate  of  the 
first-class  little  more  than  half  a  decade,  yet  such  is 
the  fact.  In  1870  he  owned  only  the  nucleus  of  his 
present  southwestern  system  of  railroads,  and  as  the 


Jay  Gould. 


643 


rival  of  the  Wabash  through  considerable  territory 
was  the  Missouri  Pacific  he  felt  by  no  means  at  ease 
regarding  the  ultimate  fate  of  his  adventure.  Com- 
modore Garrison  owned  a  controlling  interest  in 
Missouri  Pacific,  which  w^as  managed  by  his  brother 
Oliver.  Commodore  Garrison  did  not  like  Mr. 
Gould,  and  would  not  have  objected  to  make  Gould's 
purchase  of  Wabash  a  dear  bargain.  He  probably 
would  have  done  so  had  it  not  been  for  Oliver  Garri- 
son. The  lacter  and  Ben  W.  Lewis,  Gould's  manaorer 
of  the  Wabash,  were  close  friends,  and  Garrison,  as 
chief  executive  of  the  Missouri  Pacific,  did  nothing 
to  injure  Gould's  property.  But  w^hen  Mr.  Lewis 
called  upon  Mr.  Gould  in  New  York,  one  day  toward 
the  close  of  1879,  and  tendered  his  resignation  on 
the  ground  of  other  interests  which  claimed  his  atteur 
tion,  Gould  immediately  saw  breakers  ahead  and  said 
so.  Lewis  suggested  that  he  remove  the  breakers 
by  buying  control  of  the  Missouri  Pacific.  The  sug- 
gestion was  not  allowed  to  get  moldy.  Gould  called 
upon  Oliver  Garrison  and  offered  $1,500,000  for  the 
Garrison  interest  in  the  road.  Garrison  was  much 
surprised,  and  said  it  would  be  necessary  to  consult 
with  the  Commodore.  He  said,  however,  that  $1,500,- 
000  was  at  least  $500,000  too  low.  When  the  Commo- 
dore heard  of  Gould's  offer  he  rubbed  his  hands, 
laughed,  and  put  the  price  at  $2,800,000.  Gould  re- 
torted that  he  could  have  bought  it  on  the  previous 
day  for  $2,000,000.  The  Commodore  explained  that 
the  difference  between  yesterday  and  to-day  was 
$800,000.  Gould  said  nothing  and  retired.  He  made 
another  effort  the  following  day.    The  Commodore 


644 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


had  been  thinking.  His  thoughts  cost  Mr.  Gould 
$1,000,000  for  his  price  on  the  third  day  of  the 
negotiations  was  $3,800,000.  Mr.  Gould  did  not  ex- 
press his  thoughts,  but  his  speech  demonstrated  that 
he  appreciated  the  danger  and  expense  of  delay.  He 
said:  "I'll  take  it,"  and  he  did.  Thus  from  a  begin- 
ning of  less  than  1,000  miles  he  secured  control  of  a 
system  of  over  5,000,  forming  the  Missouri  Pacific, 
Iron  Mountain,  and  International  and  Great  Northern 
and  their  branches  into  one  compact  system.  The 
bargain,  in  comparison  with  the  present  value  of  the 
property,  was  as  close  a  one  as  Mr.  Gould  ever 
managed  to  make,  and  from  the  day  it  was  closed  he 
has  lost  no  opportunity  of  extending  his  railroad 
property,  which,  with  the  lines  that  are  yet  on  paper, 
but  are  almost  certain  to  be  built,  is  soon  likely  to 
embrace  at  least  6,000  miles  of  rail. 

Although  the  general  manager's  office  is  at  St. 
Louis  and  none  of  the  Gould  roads — for  the  Wabash 
is  not  in  the  system — run  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
nothing  of  importance  is  transacted  there  without 
the  knowledge  and  sanction  of  Mr.  Gould.  Private 
wires  run  from  the  St.  Louis  office  to  the  Western 
Union  building,  in  which  is  Mr.  Gould's  private  office, 
where  he  spends  some  hours  each  day  sitting  at  a 
desk  that  never  ought  to  have  cost  more  than  $25. 

He  has  traveled  many  times  over  every  mile  of  his 
railroads.  There  is  an  immensity  of  interest  in  such 
a  trip  when  made  for  the  first  time,  or  even  the  second 
or  third,  but  it  has  been  made  so  often  by  Mr.  Gould 
that  he  has  thoroughly  absorbed  all  the  pleasure  to 
be  obtained  from  it  except  that  which  smacks  of 


Jay  Gould. 


645 


dollars  and  power.  His  trips  occupy  about  three 
weeks  from  the  time  his  special  car,  the  Convoy, 
leaves  St.  Louis  until  it  returns  to  that  hot  and  dusty 
city  of  pageants  and  conventions. 

When  word  is  flashed  to  St.  Louis  that  Mr.  Gould 
is  on  his  way  every  official  on  the  system  packs  his 
head  full  of  information,  and  there  is  unwonted 
activity  from  Omaha  to  Galveston,  and  from  Fort 
Worth  to  San  Antonio.  All  of  the  system's  execu- 
tive force  w^as  selected  either  by  Mr.  Gould  or  by 
trusted  officials  in  whom  he  had  implicit  faith,  and 
the  heads  of  divisions  who  work  for  Jay  Gould  could 
not  work  harder  for  anybody  else,  although  in  some 
instances  their  bank  accounts  do  not  show  it. 

Mr.  Gould  lately  was  in  the  southwest  on  a  tour 
of  inspection.  On  his  trips  he  is  always  accom- 
panied by  Gen.  Supt.  Kerrigan,  a  New^- Yorker  by 
birth — a  southwesterner  by  education.  Physically 
they  are  in  marked  contrast.  The  cleanl3^-shaven, 
fair  complexioned  superintendent  would  make  two 
of  his  employer.  In  manner  they  are  much  alike, 
though  Kerrigan  has  a  spice  of  bluffness  that  is  lack- 
ing in  the  other.  He  has  the  composed,  unexci table 
manner  of  Gould  to  perfection,  and  is  never  know^n, 
no  matter  how  great  the  provocation  may  be,  to 
speak  except  in  a  low-pitched  tone.  He  is  a  walking 
railroad  encyclopedia,  and  has  the  topographical  feat- 
ures of  the  southw^est — every  corner  of  it — at  his 
fingers'  ends.  He  has  been  employed  on  railroads  of 
the  system  for  over  thirty  years.  From  his  superin- 
tendent Mr.  Gould  obtains  such  details  as  the  latter 
gathers  from  the  division  superintendents  and  other 


G46 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


officials,  but  in  making  a  trip  Mr.  Gould  insists  upon 
stopping  at  every  point  included  in  one  of  Mr.  Ker- 
rigan's regular  trips  of  supervision.    He  is  always 
accompanied  by  a  stenographer,  who  is  also  a  type-  . 
writer,  and  the  superintendent  and  heads  of  divisions  , 
follow  the  same  plan. 

Upon  arriving  at  a  station  at  which  it  has  been 
decided  to  make  an  inspection,  Mr.  Gould  asks  how  i 
long  a  stop  will  be  made.    The  answer  may  be  "an  j 
hour."    Mr.  Gould  looks  at  his  watch.    He  then  ac- 
companies the  superintendent  on  a  part  of  his  rounds,  | 
listens  quietly  to  his  talk  with  the  railroad  officials  , 
of  the  place,  and  having  heard  all  he  cares  to  listen  j 
to,  wanders  around  by  himself,  while  the  superin-  | 
tendent  picks  up  the  information  which  later  he  will 
give  to  his  employer.    Mr.  Gould  manifests  no  im- 
patience until  the  hour  has  been  exhausted.    But  if 
the  engineer  is  not  ready  to  start  on  the  minute,  and  ] 
all  hands  are  not  in  their  places  on  the  car,  he  be-  j 
gins  to  fidget,  and  is  restless  until  a  fresh  start  is  made. 

He  is  a  strong  advocate  of  method.    The  day's  i 
work  is  laid  out  in  the  morning,  and  almost  before  the  ^ 
train  starts  in  the  morning  he  has  settled  how  many  ' 
stops  can  be  made  during  the  day  and  where  the 
night  can  be  spent.    He  dines  and  sleeps  on  board 
his  car  from  the  start  to  the  finish  of  a  three  weeks' 
trip.    At  night  the  Convoy  is  run  to  the  quietest  • 
part  of  the  yard,  as  the  owner  objects  to  more  noise 
than  he  can  avoid  at  night,  though  he  can  apparently 
stand  as  much  as  any  one  else  in  daylight.    His  car 
is  always  a  curiosity  along  the  line,  and  people  come 
from  far  and  near  to  look  at  it  as  it  stands  in  the 


Jay  Gould. 


647 


evening  in  a  secluded  spot,  secure  in  its  loneliness. 
In  some  parts  of  the  country  through  which  his  roads 
run  he  is  quite  as  much  of  a  curiosity  in  the  eyes  of 
the  country  folk  as  a  circus,  and  were  he  to  stand 
on  tlie  platform  after  the  manner  of  James  G.  Blaine, 
would  attract  quite  as  big  a  crowd  as  tliat  gentleman. 
He  is  never  apparently  anxious  to  achieve  notoriety 
in  tliat  way,  and  is  quite  as  modest  in  his  demeanor 
while  on  one  of  his  tours  as  he  is  in  his  office  or  his 
Fifth  avenue  mansion.  In  the  latter,  as  a  few  news- 
paper reporters  know,  he  is  more  unassuming  and  far 
more  polite  than  a  majority  of  his  thousand-dollar 
employes. 

Mr.  Gould  meets  some  odd  as  well  as  prominent 
people  on  his  trij^s,  and  occasionally  has  a  peculiar 
experience.  On  his  first  visit  to  Galveston,  Texas, 
he  discovered  that  it  was  on  an  island.  Like  a  good 
many  others  he  imagined  it  was  on  the  mainland. 
On  this  occasion  a  number  of  citizens  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  do  him  honor,  and  he  had  promised  to  take 
up  his  quarters  at  a  hotel  The  committee  had  neg- 
lected to  secure  carriages  for  the  party,  and  made  a 
desperate  effort,  just  before  the  arrival  of  his  car,  to 
repair  the  omission.  Tliis  it  was  unable  to  do.  There 
was  an  election  at  Galveston  on  that  particular  day. 
It  was  a  hot  one,  both  the  day  and  the  election,  and 
everything  on  wheels  had  been  bought  up  by  the  con- 
tending parties.  T^venty  dollars  was  offered  for  a 
hack  and  refused.  The  committee  felt  forlorn  until 
Mr.  Gould  laughed  at  its  dilemma  and  remarked  that 
he  saw  no  hills  he  couldn't  climb.  This  is  the  only 
joke  charged  against  Mr.  Gould  by  the  people  who 


1 

648  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

live  on  the  line  of  his  roads,  for  the  highest  point  of 
Galveston  is  only  three  feet  above  the  sea  level.  The  \ 
inhabitants  claim  four  feet,  and  denounce  as  a  libel 
the  statement  made  by  people  who  live  inland  that  : 
tidewater  is  three  feet  higher  than  Galveston. 

While  skimming  along  over  the  International  and  j 
Great  Northern,  between  Houston  and  Galveston, 
Mr.  Gould  can  not  look  on  either  side  of  him  without 
looking  at  land  owned  by  A.  A.  Talmage,  manager  | 
of  the  Wabash  railroad.  Mr.  Talmage  owns  a  tract  : 
or  ranch — though  there  are  but  few  cattle  on  it — of 
160,000  acres.  For  this  land  Mr.  Talmage  paid  \^  \ 
cents  per  acre.  He  would  probably  refuse  to  sell  it 
to-day  for  $6  an  acre.  If  Mr.  Talmage  owned  nothing  j 
else  beside  this  ranch  he  might  be  considered  above 
want.  Mr.  Gould  owns  some  land  in  different  parts  , 
of  the  country  also,  but  as  a  proprietor  of  the  soil 
he  occupies  a  much  lower  grade  than  Manager  Tal- 
mage. George  Gould  probably  owns  as  much  land 
— railroad  land  grants  not  considered — in  the  south-  , 
west  as  his  father,  and  is  always  on  the  lookout  for  j 
bargains.  These  are  always  to  be  had  at  the  close  of  ! 
a  disastrous  agricultural  and  cattle  season.  New- 
comers in  Texas  are  liable  to  forget  that  disastrous 
years  only  occur  occasionally,  and  that  in  three  favor- 
able seasons  the  profits  will  be  large  enough  to  stand 
one  bad  season  in  three.  They  may  hear  of  all  this 
after  they  sell  out,  but  the  old  settler  is  not  offering 
any  information  that  can  only  be  bought  with  experi- 
ence until  it  is  valuable  as  a  mournful  reflection. 

The  Iron  Mountain  railroad  has  a  station  called 
Malvern.  It  is  forty-four  miles  south  of  Little  Kock. 


Jay  Gould. 


649 


As  his  car  pulls  into  Malvern  Mr.  Gould  sees  on  a 
narrow-gauge  railroad  that  also  has  a  station  there 
an  engine  with  a  diamond-shaped  headlight.  The 
narrow-gauge  road  runs  from  Malvern  to  Hot  SjDrings. 
Mr.  Gould  has  no  interest  in  it,  but  he  knows  it  was 
built  and  is  owned — every  spike  in  it — by  a  man  who 
received  his  first  start  in  life  from  the  same  man  who 
placed  him  on  his  feet.  The  Hot  Springs  railroad  is 
owned  by  "Diamond  Joe"  Eeynolds,  who  was  started 
in  business  many  years  ago  by  Zadock  Pratt,  of  the 
town  of  Prattsville,  Greene  county,  N.  Y.,  when  the 
young  man  lived  in  Sullivan  county,  right  across  the 
line  of  Delaware  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  Jay 
Gould  was  enabled  by  Mr.  Pratt  to  tan  hides  with 
oak  and  hemlock  bark — not  after  the  fashion  of  Wall 
street.  Reynolds  and  Gould  were  assisted  by  Mr. 
Pratt  about  the  same  time,  Reynolds  is  not  as  wealthy 
to-day  as  Mr.  Gould,  but  he  owns  all  the  money  he 
wants,  and  Mr.  Gould  has  often  said  it  did  not  need 
$50,000,000  to  secure  contentment.  "Diamond  Joe" 
Reynolds  is  a  rich  man,  and  he  spends  much  of  his 
time  between  Chicgao  and  Hot  S]3rings.  On  his  first 
visit  to  Hot  Springs  he  was  compelled  to  stage  it 
from  Malvern.  The  ride  disgusted  him  as  much  as 
the  springs  delighted  him.  He  found  a  man  who  had 
obtained  a  charter  for  a  railroad  from  Malvern  to  the 
springs  and  who  had  no  money.  The  charter  and 
some  money  changed  hands.  Reynolds  built  the  road 
and  owns  it,  rolling-stock  andalL  The  road  is  twenty- 
four  miles  long.  He  has  made  his  money  in  wheat, 
but  not  in  Sullivan  county.  After  getting  a  start 
there  he  went  west  and  shipped  wheat  from  Wiscon- 


650  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


sin  to  Chicago.  He  shipped  it  in  sacks  and  marked 
the  sacks  with  a  diamond  and  inclosed  in  it  the  letters 
"J.  O."  It  was  from  this  circumstance,  because  the 
trade-mark  became  widely  known,  that  he  obtained 
the  sobriquet  of  "Diamond  Joe,"  and  not  as  those  wlio 
have  only  heard  of  him  think  from  a  penchant  for 
gems,  for  Mr.  Repiolds  is  modest  as  well  as  rich. 

Mr.  Gould  travels  like  a  rocket  when  inspecting 
his  roads.  In  this  way  he  gets  a  certain  amount  of 
exercise,  for,  as  travelers  know,  a  heavy  train  drawn 
at  the  rate  of  fifty  miles  an  hour  will  make  little  fuss 
in  comparison  with  the  antics  of  a  single  car  tacked 
to  an  engine  making  the  same  rate.  Mr.  Gould  often 
travels  in  the  Convoy  at  a  fifty-mile  gait,  and  during 
such  a  trip  he  has  been  known  to  cliange  seats — from 
one  side  of  the  car  to  the  other — not  of  his  own 
volition,  but  without  changing  countenance.  So  long 
as  Supt.  Kerrigan  keeps  his  hand  off  the  bell  rope 
Mr.  Gould  makes  no  remonstrance,  but  accepts  his 
shaking  without  a  grumble.  He  changed  engineers 
on  one  of  his  recent  trips  without  knowing  it.  The 
engineer  had  been  running  slowly  for  reasons  of  his 
own,  in  spite  of  numerous  pulls  at  the  bell  cord. 
When,  however,  he  discovered  that  dinner  was  under 
way  he  pulled  the  throttle  open,  and  the  locomotive 
darted  ahead  suddenly,  as  if  going  through  space. 
The  jar  cleaned  the  table  like  a  flash.  At  the  next 
station  the  engineer  was  promoted  to  a  freight  train. 


I 

( 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 


THE  METROPOLITAN  PRESS. 


PRINTING-HOUSE  SQUARE— A  BRIEF  BIT  OP  HISTORY— HOW  MORNING 
JOURNALS  ARE  MADE — NIGHT  WORK — STEREOTYPES  FROM  THE  FORMS 
— HOW  THE  NEWS  IS  COLLECTED  AND  DISTRIBUTED — EDITORS  AND 
JOURNALISTS — THE  NEW  YORK  PRESS — BENNETT  AND  GREELEY — 
EDITORS  OF  TO-DAY. 


T  midnight,  when  almost  all  the  upper  part  of 


the  metropolis  is  hushed  in  sleep,  a  walk  down 
to^\Ti  and  across  City  Hall  Park  brings  one  to  Printr 
ing  House  Square,  where  within  the  brief  space  of 
one-eighth  oi  a  mile  the  offices  of  the  leading  morn- 
ing newspapers  are  concentrated.  It  is  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  business  center  of  the  city.  Here  is  the 
postoffice;  here  the  principal  surface  railways  have 
their  starting  point  for  up  town;  here  is  the  Brook- 
lyn Bridge  and  the  City  Hall  Station  of  the  Third 
avenue  Elevated  Road;  close  by  is  old  St.  Paul's  and 
the  Astor  House ;  and  here  loom  up  the  great  build- 
ings of  the  Herald^  the  Tribune  with  its  tall  tower, 
the  Staats-Zeitung  with  its  magnificent  granite  fronts 
on  three  sides  of  the  block,  the  Sun^  the  World^  the 
Times^  the  Star  and  the  Morning  Journal.  A  bronze 
statue  of  Benjamin  Franklin  appropriately  distin- 
guishes Printing  House  Square.  Here,  when  almost 
all  the  upper  part  of  the  city  is  silent,  it  is  all  alight 


652 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


and  active — compositors  and  presses  are  busily  em-  j 
ployed,  editors  and  reporters  are  putting  together, 

condensing  and  commenting  upon  the  world's  news  ^ 
for  the  past  twenty-four  hours;  and  a  little  later  in 

the  morning,  while  the  editors,  reporters,  printers,  i 

and  pressmen  are  wending  tlieir  way  homeward,  ex-  ' 
press  wagons  are  loading  with  newspapers  for  the 

up-town  branch  offices  and  distributing  points,  bags  : 

full  are  pouring  into  the  postoffice  for  the  morning  - 

mails,  and  an  army  of  newsmen,  and  boys,  and  car-  | 

riers  are  rushing  into  the  different  offices  for  their  i 
supplies  to  distribute  all  over  the  island,  in  Bi'ooklyn 
and  in  Jersey  City,  to  be  laid  upon  thousands  of 

tables  with  the  cloth  at  bi'eakf  ast  time.    So  early  are  : 

the  papers  printed   no^\'-a-days,  and   such  are  the  \ 

facilities  of  mail  and  special  train  transit  and  dis-  ' 

tribution,  that  places  and  people  almost  anywhere  ' 

within  a  radius  of  three  hundred  miles  from  the  City  : 

Hall  get  their  morning  journals  by  8  o'clock.  The  I 
first  papers  from  the  press  go  to  the  most  distant 

points,  and  those  last  printed  are  distributed  in  the  ! 

city.  I 

A  BRIEF  BIT  OF  HISTOEY.  i 

The  first  newspaper  in  New  York  was  issued  Oc- 
tober 16,  1725,  when  William  Bradford  began  the 
publication  of  the  New  York  Gazette,  In  1754  there 
were  two,  and  in  1776  four  journals  in  the  city. 
Itivingtoii's  Royal  Gazette  was  continued  through 
the  Revolution,  till  the  peace  of  1783  drove  the  British  j 
fi'om  the  city.  The  Commercial  Advertiser  began  in 
1797;  the  Evening  Post  in  1801;  the  Sun  started  as 


The  Metropolitan  Press. 


653 


a  penny  paper  in  1833;  the  Herald^  also  at  first  a 
penny  paper,  began  in  1835;  the  Tribune  was  founded 
by  Horace  Greeley  in  1841;  the  Tinies^  by  Henry  J. 
Raymond  in  1850;  the  World  ^di'^  started  as  a  semi- 
religious  daily  in  1860,  but  after  sinking  much  money, 
it  was  purchased  by  Manton  Marble,  who  joined  with 
it  the  old  Courier  and  Enquirer^  and  made  his  jour- 
nal the  leading  Democratic  daily.  In  the  period 
comprised  within  a  century,  hundreds  of  journals, 
daily  and  weekly,  have  been  started,  millions  of 
money  have  been  invested,  and  after  a  longer  or 
shorter  career,  the  ventures  have  proved  unsuccessful, 
the  papers  have  failed,  and  their  very  names  are 
almost  forgotten.  The  time  has  been  when  a  news- 
paper could  be  started  with  a  little  money,  and  some 
of  the  most  successful  have  begun  with  a  very  small 
capital.  Greeley  founded  the  Tribune  with  $1,000, 
and  Bennett  had  even  less  when  he  began  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Herald;  but  now-a-days  an  immense 
capital  must  be  actually  sunk  before  a  newspaper  is 
fairly  on  its  legs,  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dol- 
lars must  be  spent  before  it  can  claim  to  be  "estab- 
lished." 

HOW  THE  MORmNG  JOURNALS  ARE  MADE. 

Apart  from  the  mechanical  appliances,  composition, 
press- work,  sale,^ mailing,  distribution,  etc.,  the  work 
proper  required  to  make  a  morning  newspaper  begins 
at  about  10  a.  m.,  and  continues  till  2  or  3  o'clock 
next  morning.  The  day's  duties  begin  in  the  local 
department,  where  the  city  editor  makes  the  assign- 
ments which  specify  what  each  one  of  his  stafE  of 


654 


Won  DEES  OF  a  Great  City. 


reporters  is  to  do,  get,  gather,  and  write  up.  His 
assignment  book  has  a  list  of  all  the  appointments 
and  engagements  that  must  be  kept,  with  the  name 
of  the  special  reporter  written  opposite  each,  so  that 
he  who  runs  may  read,  or  rather  he  who  reads  must 
run  as  fast  as  his  legs,  street  cars,  or  other  conveyance 
will  carry  him,  and  get  his  report  as  soon  as  possi})]e. 
The  reporter  is  also  informed  how  much  space  he  may 
occupy  in  the  paper ;  that  is,  whether  the  matter  is 
worth  a  column  or  less,  or  a  brief  paragraph  only. 
In  every  office  there  is  a  volunteer  staff  of  "out- 
siders," or  specials,  who  do  particular  work  wanted 
by  tli^  city  editor,  or  who  write  sketch  articles,  and 
who  get  from  $6  to  $10  per  column  for  their  matter,  ^ 
and  often  make  more  money  fi-om  week  to  week  than 
do  any  of  the  salaried  members  of  the  reportoiial 
staff.    A  city  editor  receives  from  $50  to  $100  a 
week ;  his  assistants  from  $30  to  $40  ;  and  reporters 
from  $15  to  $35,  according  to  their  ability  and  work, 
and  some  of  the  offices  employ  as  many  as  forty  of  \ 
these  local  writers  and  itemizers.    The  city  columns  ; 
necessitate  numerous  departments  in  which  regular 
reporters  are  employed,  and  these  cover  the  courts,  ' 
police  coui'ts,  public  offices,  fires,  and  so  on ;  and  there 
must  be  a  double  staff  which  includes  the  night  city 
editor,  and  his  assistants  and  reporters. 

The  managing  editor  is  at  his  desk  by  noon,  and 
first  puts  himself  in  communication  with  the  city 
editor  to  see  w^hat  has  been  done,  what  is  to  be  done, 
and  how  it  is  provided  for.  Mail  readers  are  indus- 
triously and  rapidly  going  through  tlie  vast  pile  of 
exchanges  Avhicli  come  in  at  different  hours  through 


The  Metropolitan  Fress, 


655 


the  day,  clipping  this  for  insertion,  or  marking  that 
for  the  attention  of  the  editor-in-chief,  or  for  some  of 
the  editorial  writers.  These  last  do  their  work 
through  the  day  and  evening  upon  topics  of  their  own 
selection  or  subjects  specially  assigned,  and  two  or 
more  of  them  remain  late  at  night  to  comment  edi- 
torially, upon  the  last  received  important  news. 
These  "brevier  writers"  are  generally  accomplished 
journalists,  and  their  salaries  range  fi'om  $75  to  $150 
per  week.  A  large  amount  of  editorial  writing  is 
also  done  by  "outsiders,"  who  are  paid  special  column 
rates.  During  the  day  news  from  all  quarters  comes 
in  and  must  be  arranged,  '^boiled  down"  (the  news- 
paper vernacular  for  condensed),  and  the  day's  work 
cleared  up  as  much  as  possible  before  the  far  busier 
night  hours  come  on. 

NIGHT  WOEK. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  night  editor 
arrives,  and  he  and  his  assistants  take  charge  of  the 
journal.  From  now  till  2  a.  m.  there  is  an  almost 
uninterrupted  stream  of  news  from  all  quarters — city 
news,  and  telegrams  from  all  over  the  country,  cable 
news  from  abroad,  and  when  Congress  is  in  session 
four  or  five  columns  to  be  managed  and  manipulated 
from  Washington.  The  telegrams  which  come  in 
skeleton,  that  is  all  the  unimportant  or  obvious  words 
omitted,  must  be  written  out ;  reports  must  be  con- 
densed ;  everything  must  be  edited  and  put  in  shape  ; 
matter  must  be  arranged  and  displayed  with  proper 
heads  and  introductions,  according  to  importance,  and 
especially  every  thing  must  be  ruthlessly  cut  down  to 


656 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


the  lowest  limits  the  real  value  of  the  matter  will 
permit.    When,  at  last,  the  paper  is  ready  for  the 
press,  the  night  editor  finds,  perhaps,  that  he  has  sixty - 
columns  of  matter  in  type  which  "must  go  in,"  but 
which,  nevertheless,  must  be  reduced  to  the  forty- 
eight  columns  capacity  of  the  journal.    The  editor-? 
in-chief  spends  very  little  time  in  the  office ;  but  he 
is  the  responsible  head  for  whatever  appears  in  his! 
paper,  and  day  and  night  editors,  in  cases  of  doubt^ 
or  difficulty,  can  communicate  with  him  at  any  moment] 
by  the  private  telegraph  or  telephone,  which  extends* 
to  the  editor's  house  or  club  up-town.    When  theX' 
hour  for  closing  arrives,  all  important  matter  being'l 
in,  the  night  editor  with  his  assistants  is  ready  to| 
"make-up"  the  paper — that  is,  direct  the  arrangement*^ 
of  the  matter  in  the  forms  or  "turtles,"  and  with  an 
hour's  sharp  work  the  paper  is  ready  for  the  press. 

STEREOTYPES  FROM  THE   FORMS.  ,) 

The  great  morning  newspapers  are  all  stereotyped,  \ 
and  the  type  set  is  used  only  in  taking  proofs  and  ^ 
never  put  on  the  press.  After  it  is  locked  up  in  the  > 
forms,-  it  is  carefully  cleaned  and  a  papier-mach^.J; 
matrix  is  made.  This  is  done  by  placing  several^ 
thicknesses  of  damp  tissue  paper  over  the  type,f 
pressing  them  down  so  as  to  take  an  indented  impres-  i, 
sion ;  the  mould  is  lifted  oif  and  quickly  dried  by  j; 
steam ;  type  metal  is  poured  in,  and  pei-f  ect  pages  of  . 
the  paper  are  thus  produced  to  be  printed  from.  The  . 
entire  operation  does  not  require  more  than  fifteen  or  ; 
twenty  minutes.  The  advantage  is  not  only  in  saving  ] 
the  wear  of   type,  but  much  greater  rapidity  is 


The  Metropolitan  Press.  657 


secured  in  issuing  the  journal,  since  duplicate  impres- 
sions can  be  made,  and  some  papers,  like  the  Sun  and 
the  Herald^  print  from  these  plates  on  four  or  five 
presses  afc  once.  It  may  be  noticed  here,  that  some 
of  the  weekly  journals,  and  some  of  the  monthly 
periodicals  make  electrotypes,  so  that  they  can  print 
their  sheets  on  six  or  eight  different  presses  at  one 
time,  otherwise,  with  their  immense  circulation,  it 
would  be  impossible  for  them  to  print  their  issues 
within  the  time  which  theii'  needs  demand. 

HOW  THE  I^EWS  IS  COLLECTED. 

Years  ago,  the  leading  metropolitan  journals  co- 
operated in  collecting  marine  news,  and  when  the 
telegraph  was  an  established  success,  the  Journal  of 
Commerce^  Express^  Tribune^  Sun^  Herald,  and 
Courier  and  Enquwer  combined  to  form  the  As- 
sociated Press.  Absorbing  the  Courier  and  Enquirer 
brought  in  the  Worlds  and  the  Times  was  admitted 
in  1851.  The  papers  form  the  association,  and  change 
of  proprietors  does  not  affect  a  paper's  partnership. 
The  association  collects  news  for  itself,  and  divides 
the  expenses  of  reporting  and  telegraphing  between 
the  papers.  Such  papers  as  the  Evening  Post  and 
the  Staats-Zeitung  buy  the  news,  and  the  association 
also  sells  its  news  to  more  than  five  hundred  papers 
published  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  The  news  it 
collects  is  sent  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  so 
that  papers  in  the  combination  can  get  it  at  rates 
which  they  are  able  to  pay — the  more  prosperous 
papers  paying  from  $500  to  $1,000  per  week  for  what 
costs  weekly  papers  in  some  parts  of  the  country  only 


658 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


$15  or  $20,  i.  e.j  for  all  the  important  news  in  a  more 
condensed  form. 

The  Association  has  agents  all  over  the  world. 
Its  dispatches  by  the  Atlantic  cables  amount  to  not 
less  than  $300  a  day,  and  sometimes  are  five  times  as 
much.  All  news,  foreign  or  domestic,  is  sent  over 
the  different  lines  of  telegraph,  and  is  "dropped"  at 
all  the  important  places  on  the  various  routes,  where 
it  is  manifolded  for  the  local  journals.  In  the  city 
the  manifolds,  as  fast  as  they  are  made,  are  separated, 
enveloped,  and  sent  by  pneumatic  tubes  to  each 
office.  If  any  paper  of  the  Association  receives 
special  dispatches  from  any  jDoint  (excepting  Wash- 
ington, and  from  Albany  during  sessions  of  the  legis- 
lature) it  must  send  manifolds  of  the  same  to  the 
other  associated  papers  to  use  or  not  as  they  please, 
those  using  them  sharing  the  cost  of  reporting  and 
transmission.  This  enterprise  is  the  perfected  result 
of  long  years  of  experience,  and  in  no  other  way 
could  the  news  of  the  whole  world  be  gathered  so 
readily,  so  rapidly,  or  so  cheaply. 

EDITOES   AND  JOUENAUSTS. 

The  profession  of  journalism  includes  some  of  the 
foremost  men  and  minds  in  New  York.  Any  one 
will  recall  the  long  list  of  names  of  the  dead  and 
living  who,  as  editors  or  newspaper  writers,  have 
been  prominent  in  New  York  within  twenty-five 
years.  Such  men  as  Webb,  Bennett,  Bryant, 
Greeley,  Goodwin,  Raymond,  Brooks,  Dana,  Hurl- 
bert,  Hastings,  Reid,  Bigelow,  Ottendorfer,  Frederick 
Hudson,  Dr.  Ripley,  George  Alfred  Townsend,  Joseph 
Pulitzer,  and   many  more  who   could   be  named, 


The  Metropolitan  Press.  659 


have  a  world-wide  reputation.  Journalists,  like 
poets,  are  "born,  not  made,"  and  though  careful  crain- 
ing  and  long  experience  will  advance  men  in  the  pro 
fession,  yet  there  are  those  who  have  almost  at  once 
stepped  into  prominent  positions,  while  others 
always  remain  as  reporters,  or  stay  all  their  lives  in 
subordinate  situations.  Few  men  in  the  city  work 
harder  than  do  the  employes  in  the  different  depart- 
ments of  the  daily  papers.  No  publications  are  so 
enterprising  as  the  New  York  newspapers.  They  are 
tireless  in  their  everlasting  search  for  news,  and  they 
stop  at  no  cost.  The  London  and  Paris  journals,  in 
contrast  to  the  New  York  dailies,  are  simply  apolo- 
gies for  newspapers.  Take  up  the  London  Times, 
the  great  "thunderer. "  It  has  from  this  country, 
under  a  Philadelphia  date  line  (strange  to  say,  its 
solitary  American  correspondent  is  stationed  at  Phila- 
delphia), a  couple  of  dozen  lines  devoted  to  markets, 
politics,  and  general  news.  On  the  other  hand,  there 
is  not  a  New  York  paper  but  what  prints  from  three 
to  a  dozen  columns  of  foreign  news  by  cable  every 
day.  They  have  salaried  correspondents  stationed  at 
the  principal  news  centres  of  Europe,  and  representa- 
tives in  ever}^  city  in  this  country.  No  item  of  news 
can  escape  them.  The  daily  circulation  of  the  New 
York  morning  newspapers  is  something  wonderful. 
Here  are  some  figures  carefully  compiled  and  pretty 
authentic.  The  World^  160,000  copies,  reaching  250,- 
000  copies  at  times  on  Sundays  and  extra  occasions ; 
the  Herald,  120,000;  the  Sun,  100,000;  the  Morning 
Journal,  60,000;  the  Staats-Zeitung,  60,000;  the 
Times,  50,000;  the  Trihtne,  50,000,  and  the  Star, 


660 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


45,000.  In  politics  they  stand  as  follows:  Demo- 
cratic, the  Wo?'l(lj  Sun  and  Star;  Republican,  the 
Tribune  and  Times;  Independent,  the  Herald  and 
Morning  Jonrnal,  Their  advertising  rates  per  line, 
ordinary  matter,  range  from  thirty  cents  to  two  dol- 
lars, according  to  location. 

The  evening  papers  are  not  so  enterprising  as  their 
morning  contemporaries.  They  are  content  to  plod 
along  in  a  good  old-fashioned  manner, with  small  corps, 
paying  considerable  attention  to  matters  of  local 
moment.  They  are,  with  daily  circulations:  The 
Evening  JVetos,  110,000  copies;  the  Telegram^  50,000; 
the  Evening  Snn,  35,000 ;  the  Mail  and  Express^ 
15,000;  the  Commercial  Advertiser^  10,000;  the 
Evening  Post,  10,000;  the  Graphic,  10,000.  The 
JVews,  and  Sun  are  Democratic,  the  Graphic  and 
Telegram  Independent,  and  the  remaining  three  Ee- 
publican. 

Something  about  the  lives  of  the  two  men  who 
made  New  York  journalism — James  Gordon  Bennett 
and  Horace  Greeley — and  the  able  editors  of  to-day, 
will  not  prove  uninteresting : 

JAMES  GORDON  BENITETT. 

It  would  be  folly  to  attach  "Sr."  to  the  name  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  for  he  has  been  dead  fifteen 
years,  and  the  English  speaking  and  reading  world 
knows  that  the  monument  he  left  behind  him  in  the 
Herald  is  managed  by  his  son  who  bears  his  illus- 
trious father's  name  entire.  Mr.  Bennett  was  born  in 
1795,  at  New  Mill,  Keith,  in  Banffshire,  Scotland.  He 
was  educated  for  the  ministry,  but  never  fancied  that 
avocation. 


The  Metropolitan  Press. 


GGl 


It  was  a  sudden  impulse  that  induced  Mr.  Bennett 
to  embark  for  tliis  country.  He  met  a  companion  in 
the  street  one  day,  who  informed  him  that  he  was 
going  to  America.  Bennett  expressed  a  desire  to  see 
the  place  where  Franklin  was  born,  and  resolved  to 
embark  with  his  friend.  He  sailed  on  the  Gth  of 
April,  1819,  and  landed  at  Halifax.  At  Portland  he 
opened  a  school  as  teacher,  but  it  was  not  of  choice 
that  he  taught.  He  soon  moved  on  towards  Boston. 
He  was  charmed  with  all  he  saw  in  the  city  and 
vicinity.  He  hunted  up  every  memorial  of  Fi'anklin 
that  could  be  found.  He  examined  all  the  relics  of 
the  Revolution,  and  visited  the  places  made  memor- 
able in  our  struggle  with  Great  Britain.  But  he  w^as 
poor,  and  w^ell  nigh  discouraged.  He  walked  the 
Common  without  money,  hungry,  and  w^ithout  friends. 
In  his  darkest  hour  he  found  a  New  York  shilling, 
and  from  that  hour  his  fortunes  began  to  mend.  He 
obtained  a  position  with  Wells  and  Lilly,  in  Boston, 
as  proof-reader.  Here  he  displayed  his  ability  as  a 
writer,  both  in  poetry  and  prose.  Mr.  Bennett  came 
to  New  York  in  1822.  He  immediately  connected 
himself  with  the  press,  for  which  he  had  a  decided 
taste.  He  was  not  dainty  in  his  work.  He  took  any- 
thing that  came  along.  He  was  industrious,  sober, 
frugal,  of  great  tact,  and  displayed  marked  ability. 
He  soon  obtained  a  position  on  the  Charleston  Courier 
as  translator  of  Spanish-American  papers.  He  pre- 
pared other  articles  for  the  Courier^  many  of  which 
were  in  verse.  His  style  was  sharp,  racy,  and  ener- 
getic. On  returning  to  New  York  he  proposed  to 
open  a  permanent  commercial  school  on  Ann  street. 


062 


WoNDERf^  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


near  Nassau,  and  issued  his  prospectus.  The  plan 
was  not  consummated.  But  he  gave  a  course  of  lec- 
tures on  political  economy  in  the  North  Dutch 
Church. 

Mr.  Bennett,  in  1825,  became  proprietor  of  the  New 
York  Courier  by  purchase.  It  was  a  Sunday  paper, 
but  was  not  a  success.  As  a  reporter  and  writer  he 
was  connected  with  several  journals. 

On  the  6th  day  of  May,  1835,  the  New  York  Herald 
was  issued  from  No.  20  Wall  street.  It  was  a  small 
penny  sheet.  Mr.  Bennett  was  editor,  reporter,  and 
correspondent.  He  collected  city  news  and  wrote 
the  money  articles.  He  resolved  to  make  the  financial 
feature  of  his  paper  a  marked  one.  He  owed  nothing 
to  the  Stock  Board.  If  he  was  poor,  he  was  not  in 
debt.  He  did  not  dabble  in  stocks.  He  had  no 
interest  in  the  bulls  or  bears.  He  did  not  care 
whether  stocks  rose  or  fell.  He  could  slash  into  the 
bankers  and  stock  jobbers  as  he  pleased.  He  worked 
hard.  He  rose  early,  was  temperate  and  frugal,  and 
seemed  to  live  only  for  his  paper.  He  was  his  own 
compositor  and  errand  boy,  collected  his  own  news, 
mailed  his  papers,  kept  his  accounts,  and  thus  laid 
the  foundation  of  that  great  success  that  has  made 
his  name  as  familiar  on  the  Thames  and  Danube  as 
it  is  on  the  Hudson. 

THE  "herald"  building. 

Opposite  the  Astor,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Museum, 
stands  the  marble  palace  known  as  the  Herald  build- 
ing. It  is  the  most  complete  newspaper  establish- 
ment in  the  world.    The  little,  dingy,  sfcory-and-a-half 


The  Metropolitan  Press.  663 


brick  building,  standing  back  from  tlie  street  up  a 
court,  and  known  in  London  as  the  "  Times  Printing 
Office,"  would  not  be  used  for  a  third-rate  American 
paper.  The  Herald  building  has  two  stories  below 
the  sidewalk,  in  which  are  located  two  engines  of 
thirty-five  horse  power  each,  ready  for  action  at  a 
moment's  notice.  If  one  fails,  the  other  will  strike 
off  the  edition.  A  dozen  huge  Hoe  presses  are  used. 
The  first  story  is  the  Herald  office,  fitted  with  the 
neatness  and  system  of  a  bank.  Every  department 
has  a  responsible  head.  On  the  third  floor  the  paper 
is  edited.  It  has  a  force  of  thirty  editors  and  editorial 
writers,  one  hundred  reporters,  and  five  hundred  men 
in  all.  The  principal  room  is  the  council  room.  It 
faces  St.  Paul's  on  Broadway.  The  editorial  rooms, 
and  rooms  for  reporters  and  writers,  occupy  the  entire 
floor.  A  small  winding  stairway  leads  from  the  en- 
trance on  Ann  street  to  the  editorial  rooms.  At  the 
top  of  the  stairs  a  doorman  demands  your  business 
and  your  card.  The  visitor  is  ushered  into  a  small 
reception  room,  occupied  almost  entirely  by  an  im- 
mense round  table,  files  of  papers,  and  a  few  chairs. 
If  persons  cannot  sit  they  can  stand.  Visitors  are 
seldom  allowed  in  the  editorial  rooms.  The  parties 
Avhom  they  call  to  see  meet  them  in  the  reception 
room.  The  composition  room  is  under  the  French 
roof,  large,  airy,  and  complete.  Every  issue  of  the 
Herald  \%  electrotyped,  and  there  is  a  room  for  that 
purpose  in  the  building.  A  dummy  lowers  the  form 
down  to  the  press  room. 


664 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


MR.  BENNETT  AT  HOME. 

In  his  house  he  was  genial,  liberal,  and  kind.  He 
dispensed  an  elegant  hospitality.  No  English  noble- 
man, with  an  income  of  fifty  thousand  pounds,  lived 
in  a  style  more  generous  than  he  in  his  city  residence 
on  Thirty-eighth  street  and  Fifth  avenue.  His  favor- 
ite residence  was  Fort  Washington.  Here  he  received 
his  friends  in  a  principality  of  his  own.  He  had  a 
great  deal  of  company,  and  had  everything  to  make 
guests  happy.  He  left  each  one  to  enjoy  himself  as 
he  pleased — a  thing  very  rare  in  America.  On  enter- 
ing Mr.  Bennett's  mansion  as  a  guest,  the  visitor 
found  every  attention  he  could  desire,  and  every  ele- 
gance to  make  him  happy.  A  French  cook,  bowling 
and  billiard  rooms,  horses  and  carriages  in  the  stable, 
a  steamboat  to  sail  up  and  down  the  Hudson,  were  at 
his  service.  At  dinner  all  the  guests  were  expected 
to  be  present  at  a  given  hour.  At  the  other  meals 
each  one  did  as  he  pleased.  The  guest  came  down 
to  breakfast  at  any  hour,  and  ordered  as  if  at  a  hotel. 

The  French  mission  was  offered  to  Mr.  Bennett  by 
the  President,  without  his  solicitation.  He  perempt- 
orily declined  it,  on  the  ground  that  he  would  not  be 
bothered  with  the  duties  attached  to  the  position. 
"If  I  wanted  to  go  to  Europe."  said  Mr.  Bennett,  "I 
would  take  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  go  at  my 
leisure. "  Soon  after  he  declined  the  post,  Mr.  Seward 
visited  New  York.  A  mutual  friend  stepped  over  to 
the  Herald  ofiice  and  announced  the  fact  to  Mr.  Ben- 
nett, and  asked  him  to  walk  over  and  see  the  secre- 
tary.   "I  have  no  business  with  Mr.  Seward,"  replied 


The  Metropolitan  Press.  665 


the  editor;  "if  he  wishes  to  see  me  he  can  call  and 
see  me."  Mr.  Bennett  regarded  himself  as  a  repre- 
sentative man,  who  was  to  be  called  upon  by  all  who 
wished  to  see  him.  He  carried  this  rule  to  great 
lengths. 

Up  to  within  a  year  of  his  death,  Mr.  Bennett 
seemed  as  physically  strong  as  ever;  but  in  the  spring 
of  1872  he  sickened,  and  on  June  1st  he  died.  To 
the  last  his  mental  faculties  were  unimpaired,  and 
the  large  property  he  left,  estimated  at  more  than 
three  million  dollars,,  was  divided  judiciously  between 
the  wife  and  children,  his  son,  who  was  literally  his 
successor,  inheriting  the  Herald^  worth  at  least  two 
millions.  His  wife,  Henrietta  Agnes  Crean,  whom 
he  married  in  June,  1840,  survived  the  husband  but  a 
few  months.  Her  share  of  the  Bennett  property 
went  to  her  daughter,  Jeanette,  who  also  inherited, 
under  her  father's  will,  the  Fort  Washington  estate, 
and  money  enough  to  make  her  one  of  the  notable 
heiresses  of  the  day.  After  the  newspapers  had 
married  her  to  at  least  a  dozen  noblemen,  she  was 
quietly  wedded  at  Newport,  E.  I,  in  August,  1878,  to 
Isaac  Bell,  Jr.,  of  New  York,  and  the  birth  of  her 
first  son,  in  1879,  was  signalled  by  a  present  to  the 
young  Bell,  from  his  uncle  Bennett,  of  $100,000  in 
United  States  bonds,  which  made  him  rich  when  only 
one  day  old. 

James  Gordon  Bennett,  Jr.,  was  "brought  up"  to 
be  his  father's  successor  in  the  editorship  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Herald.  He  was  very  efficient  in  organizing 
the  corps  of  Herald  war  correspondents,  sixty-three 
in  number,  at  an  expense  for  four  years  of  $525,000. 


666 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


It  was  especially  his  pet  enterprise  that  the  Herald 
should  send  Henry  M.  Stanley,  in  1871,  to  find  Liv- 
ingstone  in  Africa,  and  Stanley  succeeded  in  the 
search  and  finding  at  a  cost  to  the  Herald  of  more 
than  $100,000.  In  conjunction  with  the  London 
Telegraphy  in  1874,  the  Herald  again  sent  Stanley  to 
explore  the  lake  region  of  Equatorial  Africa,  to  solve, 
if  possible,  the  secret  of  the  sources  of  the  Nile.  He 
started  with  a  force  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  of  whom  he  lost  one  hundred  and  ninety-four 
by  death  and  desertion.  He  made  the  first  complete 
exploration  of  the  Victoria  N'yanza  Lake,  his  cir- 
cumnavigation covering  1,000  miles,  reached  the 
farthest  northern  point  attained  by  Livingstone  or 
Cameron,  was  on  the  Congo  river  for  nine  months, 
and  reached  the  Atlantic  coast  in  August,  1877.  His 
valuable  geographical  discoveries  might  have  been 
postponed  for  years  to  come  but  for  the  means  and 
enterprise  of  the  Herald,  The  value  of  the  Herald's 
weather  bureau,  carried  on  at  an  enormous  expense, 
has  been  cordially  acknowledged  abroad,  where  the 
forewarning  of  storms  on  the  Atlantic  has  prevented 
ships  from  leaving  port,  and  so,  doubtless,  saved  many 
from  disaster.  Personally,  Mr.  Bennett  is  very  popu- 
lar, and  such  little  escapades  as  the  Bennett- May  duel 
are  readily  overlooked.  He  lives  much  abroad, 
looking  after  the  Herald  bureaus  in  London  and  in 
Paris,  but  he  keeps  a  sharp  eye  to  the  conduct  of  his 
journal,  and  directs  its  movements  by  cable  or  tele- 
graph when  he  is  not  in  New  York.  He  generally 
spends  the  "season  "  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  where  he  is  a 
large  property-holder,  and  his  valuable  aid  there  in 


The  Metropolitan  Press. 


667 


Introducing  water,  and  in  other  public  improvements, 
makes  him  one  of  the  most  esteemed  summer  citizens. 
He  is  a  bachelor. 

HORACE  GREELEY. 

Mr.  Greeley  was  the  well-known  editor-in-chief  of 
the  NeAV  York  Tribune.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
marked  men  in  the  city,  and  one  of  the  most  influen- 
tiaL  He  began  life  on  the  lowest  round  of  the  ladder. 
His  style  of  dress  and  appearance  in  the  street  were 
very  peculiar.  His  w^hite  coat  became  as  historical 
as  Napoleon's  gray  one.  His  face  was  fair,  and  a 
youthful  and  healthful  hue  flushed  it.  His  step  in 
the  street  was  hurried.  His  head  was  in  advance  of 
his  body,  while  his  feet  drew  heavily  on  the  ground 
The  crowd  that  rushed  past  him  made  no  impression 
upon  him,  whether  they  rushed  by  without  noticing, 
or  paused  to  follow  him  with  their  eyes.  His  head 
was  massive,  bald  on  the  top,  fringed  with  flaxen 
hair  around  the  base  of  the  brain,  till  it  blended 
with  a  loose  thin  beard  of  gray  which  cropped  out 
irregularly  around  the  throat  and  over  a  loosely-tied 
black  silk  neckerchief.  In  height  he  was  a  little 
below  six  feet.  His  eyes  were  of  grayish  blue.  His 
eyebrows  were  so  light  as  to  be  almost  unobservable. 

He  was  schooled  for  defeat  as  well  as  victory. 
Patronage  could  not  allure  him  fi*om  what  he  believed 
to  be  right.  Nominations  for  office  could  not  corrupt 
him.  His  paper  was  a  political  power,  of  unex- 
ampled success.  As  an  individual  politician,  Mr. 
Greeley's  life  was  a  failure.  He  had  none  of  the 
elective  affinities  that  mark  a  great  leader;  and 
though  he  generally  came  out  right  with  the  public 


6G8 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


in  the  end,  his  intolerance  of  differences  in  public 
judgment  marred  his  success.  As  a  speaker,  he  was 
very  forcible  and  impressive,  but  not  attractive. 
Calls  o  1  him  for  charitable  purposes,  temperance, 
and  humane  gatherings  were  numerous.  His  re- 
sponse to  these  calls  Avas  cheerful,  and  without  com- 
pensation. In  private  life,  in  company  with  a  few 
friends,  and  in  personal  intercourse,  he  was  a  de- 
lightful companion.  His  table  talk  was  spirited, 
humorous,  and  full  of  anecdote.  He  was  no  ascetic, 
but  received  heartily  the  good  things  of  Providence, 
refusing  wines  and  all  strong  drinks,  taking  no  bev- 
erage stronger  than  tea.  His  memory  was  stupen- 
dous, and  the  accuracy  by  which  he  could  recall  the 
political  movements  of  the  past,  and  the  votes  even 
of  the  states,  was  marvelous.  Not  much  of  an  artist 
himself,  he  was  fond  of  pictures,  sculpture,  and  music. 
His  charities  w^ere  large,  and  scarcely  any  one  got 
into  his  presence,  who  wanted  a  contribution,  without 
obtaining  one.  He  was  a  Universalist  in  religious 
sentiment,  and  a  regular  attendant  at  Dr.  Cha pin's 
church.  His  daughters  were  in  the  Convent  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  for  education. 

A  small  room  in  the  Tribune  office  w^as  set  apart 
for  his  use.  It  was  a  mere  den,  and  as  unsightly  as 
can  well  be  conceived.  He  worked  like  a  dray- 
horse.  His  correspondence  w^as  immense.  Besides 
this,  and  writing  his  editorials,  he  had  usually  some 
heavy  work  on  hand  w^hich  occupied  his  w^hole  time. 
Any  one  with  claims  upon  him  could  gain  access  to 
his  room.  He  would  usually  be  found  sitting  on  a 
high  stool  with  a  table  before  him,  which  came  up 


The  Metropolitan  Press, 


669 


almost  to  his  chin,  and  was  pine,  and  uncovered,  soiled 
with  use,  and  stained  with  ink,  pen  in  hand,  driving 
away  at  his  task,  with  a  handwriting  that  few  could 
decipher. 

Mr.  Greeley  was  a  member  of  Congress  for  a  few 
weeks  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  1848-49,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention,  but  never 
held  other  public  office.  His  field  of  political  power 
and  influence  was  in  the  editorial  chair.  In  1872,  he 
was  the  candidate  of  the  Liberal  Republican  and 
Democratic  parties  for  the  Presidency.  Accepting 
the  nomination,  he  retired  from  the  editorial  charge 
of  the  Tribune  and  spoke  constantly  in  all  pa^ts  of 
the  country,  till  early  in  September,  when  he  Avith- 
drew  from  the  canvass  to  watch  over  the  dying  bed- 
side of  his  beloved  wife,  who  died  a  week  before  the 
election.  This  calamity,  together  with  his  over- 
whelming defeat  in  the  Presidential  contest,  brought 
back  to  the  editorial  chair  of  the  Tribime  a  com- 
pletely broken  man,  who,  for  a  few  days,  feebly,  but 
vainly,  endeavored  to  resume  his  wonted  avocations. 
But  sleepless  nights,  followed  by  inflammation  of  the 
brain,  soon  prostrated  him,  and,  on  November  29,  he 
died  at  a  private  insane  asylum  near  Pleasantville, 
Westchester  County,  N.Y.  His  funeral  was  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  impressive  ever  witnessed  in  this 
country. 

PROMINENT  LIVING  JOURNALISTS. 

The  men  who  are  a  power  in  the  Metropolitan 
journalism  of  to-day  are  few  in  number.  They  are 
Charles  A.  Dana,  of  the  Sunj  Whitelaw  Reid,  of  the 


670 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Tribune;  George  Jones,  of  the  Times;  Joseph  Pulit- 
zer, of  the  World ;  Ben  Wood,  of  the  News^  and 
William  Dorsheimer,  of  the  Star.  Charles  A.  Dana  I 
is  about  sixty-five  years  old.  He  was  always  an  ac- 
complished writer.  He  was  connected  with  the  ! 
Tribune  some  years  before  the  war,  and  purchased  a 
controlling  interest  in  the  Sun  nearly  twenty  years 
ago.  He  is  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  has  never 
sought  office.  His  only  political  post  was  during  the 
war  as  assistant  Secretary  of  War.  Mr.  Dana  has  a 
fine  country  place  near  Astoria  on  Long  Island,  and  is 
of  a  domestic  disposition. 

Whitelaw  Reid  is  an  Ohio  man.  He  first  gained 
prominence  as  an  army  correspondent  for  the  Cin- 
cinnati Gazette^  and  in  time  drifted  to  New  York, 
becoming  attached  to  the  Tribune.  He  rose  rapidly, 
and  in  1872  succeeded  Mr.  Greeley  as  editor-in-chief. 
In  course  of  time  he  planned  the  Tribune  block,  tall 
tower  and  all,  and  some  five  years  ago  married  the 
daughter  of  Millionaire  Mills  and  a  handsome 
fortune.  Mr.  Reid  is  about  forty-eight  years  of  age, 
and  is  exclusive  to  a  degree  little  short  of  snobbish- 
ness. 

George  Jones,  of  the  Times,  is  about  the  age  of  Mr. 
Dana.  He  obtained  his  first  journalistic  training  at 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  the  Metropolis  thirty  years 
ago.  He  has  always  been  more  of  a  business  man 
than  a  writer,  although  occasionally  he  takes  up  a 
pen  and  dashes  o:ff  something  both  pertinent  and 
appropriate  to  the  moment.  He  has  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  he  can  employ,  without  difficulty,  better 
writers  than  himself. 


The  Metropolitan  Press. 


671 


Joseph  Pulitzer,  proprietor  and  editor  of  the 
World  is  a  self-made  man  in  every  respect.  He  was 
born  in  Hungary  about  two  score  years  ago  and  came 
to  this  country  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  He  received 
his  rirst  newspaper  experience  on  the  staff  of  a  Ger- 
man daily  in  St.  Louis,  the  Westliclie  Post,  in  1870. 
His  advancement  was  rapid  until  1878,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  St.  Louis  Post.  Then  he  revolutionized 
journalism.  He  absorbed  all  the  other  evening 
papers  in  St.  Louis,  and  made  his  journal  the  best 
evening  publication  in  the  world.  In  the  spring  of 
1883,  Mr.  Pulitzer  concluded  to  purchase  the  New 
York  World.  The  paper  was  owned  by  Jay  Gould, 
had  become  a  stock-jobbing  organ,  and  was  practically 
without  circulation.  Its  only  object  of  value  was  a 
franchise  in  the  New  York  Associated  Press.  Mr. 
Pulitzer  paid  $300,000  for  the  Wo7'ld,  and  to-day  it 
is  worth  two  and-a-half  millions.  In  1884,  Mr. 
Pulitzer  was  elected  to  Congress.  He  served  a  few 
months  and  resigned,  because  he  preferred  journalism 
to  politics.  He  is  a  clever,  rapid  writer.  He  is  mar- 
ried, and  is  rearing  a  charming  family. 

Hon.  Benjamin  Wood  was  always  in  politics  and 
journalism.  He  has  owned  a  controlling  interest  in 
the  JVews  for  a  score  of  years.  Whenever  he  tires 
of  newspaper  work  he  is  elected  to  Congress.  His 
little  penny  paper  is  the  best  evening  property  in 
New  York. 

William  Dorsheimer  is  rapidly  acquiring  a  knowl- 
edge of  journalism.  He  has  filled  many  posts  of 
public  honor,  fi'om  that  of  United  States  District 
Attorney,  of  both  the  Northern  and  Southern  Dis- 


672 


Wonders  of  a  Ore  at  City. 


tricts  of  New  York  State,  to  the  Lieutenant  Gover- 
norship.  Two  years  ago  he  purchased  the  Star  from 
John  Kelly,  and  made  it  the  administration  organ. 
It  is  said  to  be  the  only  paper  in  favor  at  the  White 
House. 

There  is  a  little  restaurant  down  town  on  Barclay 
street,  kept  by  a  Scotchman,  which  is  so  delightful 
that  it  deserves  a  notoriety  it  does  not  seek.  'Tis  not 
a  place  for  hasty  luncheons,  where  moribund  pie  re- 
quires violence  from  knife  and  fork,  and  where  coffee 
cups  are  so  thick  that  they  can  not  be  put  to  the  lips 
without  making  you  think  you  are  trying  to  drink 
out  of  a  wash-basin ;  no,  it  is  a  place  for  prolonged 
dinners,  where  the  shad  is  planked  to  just  the  proper 
turn,  and  where  Rataplan  is  to  be  found  the  first  of 
the  traditional  eight  days'  season.  But  I  remember 
the  restaurant  particularly,  because  it  was  there  two 
of  the  most  solemn  men  I  ever  saw  in  my  life  were 
pointed  out  to  me.  They  were  Thomas  Nast,  who 
dines  at  Sutherland's  whenever  he  spends  a  day  away 
from  his  home  at  Morristown,  and  Keppler,  founder 
and  pencil  satirist  of  Puck.  The  latter  wears  a  cape, 
or  Spanish  cloak,  wound  around  his  body  and  thrown 
over  one  shoulder,  and  looks  a  good  deal  like  a  bandit. 
The  caricaturist  of  Harper"^ s  WeeJcly^  however,  dresses 
very  conventionally,  almost  elegantly,  and  his  face  is, 
or  should  be,  perfectly  well  known,  for  the  pictures 
he  is  fond  of  making  of  himself  are  portraits  and 
good  likenesses.  He  is  a  rich  man  and  can  afford  to 
take  time  to  laugh  at  his  funny  sketches,  but  I  don't 
believe  he  ever  does  laugh  at  them  or  at  anything. 
He  looks  like  a  man  who  takes  life  gravely  and  se- 
riously. 


The  Metropolitan  Press. 


673 


The  editor  of  Pitch  also  reminds  one  of  an  owl — a 
German  owl, — sucli  as  you  see  in  tlie  opera  of  "Freis- 
chutz. "  No  matter  how  funny  his  pictures  in  Puch 
often  are,  their  purpose  is  alw^ays  serious.  He  came 
before  the  public  as  a  satirist  in  Frank  Leslie's  em- 
ploy at  a  salary  of  $15  a  week,  and  there  is  no  know- 
ing how  long  he  would  have  staid  there  if  his  em- 
ployer had  not  refused  him  a  small  advance  on  that 
sum.  When  he  did  refuse  him,  and  Keppler  w^arned 
him  that  he  intended  to  start  a  comic  paper,  Mr. 
Leslie  threatened  to  start  a  similar  one  and  drive 
him  out  of  business.  The  threat  resulted  in  Puch\s 
first  appearance  as  a  German  sheet,  but  w^hen  that 
was  successful,  and  all  danger  from  the  Illustrated 
IFcfH^  removed,  the  English  edition  was  established. 
Every  one  know^s  how  it  flourished.  Mr.  Keppler 
has  made  his  fortune,  but  the  humorist  continues  to 
wear  the  proverbial  pathetic  face  of  Punchinello  off 
the  stage.  At  the  restaurant  mentioned  above,  he  oc- 
cupied a  corner  table,  where  he  sat  and  occasionally 
sighed.  Mr.  Nast,  on  the  contrary,  kept  company 
with  a  younger  man,  who  entertained  him  with 
sprightly  conversation  and  lively  sallies,  but  he  never 
spoke;  he  only  listened  and  never  smiled. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 


HENRY  WARD  BEECHER. 


BRIEF  RESUME  OF  THE  LIFE  AND  WORKS  OF  THE  LATE  PLYMOUTH 
PASTOR — HIS  PERSONAL  MAGNETISM — HIS  BELIEF  ONE  OF  TRUE  AND 
LOVABLE  CHRISTIANITY — OCCASIONS  WHEN  HIS  CHARACTER  STAMPED 
HIM  THE  PRINCE  OF  MODERN  TEACHERS— DARK  MOMENTS— CLOSING 
SCENES. 


ENRY  WARD  BEECHER,  the  foremost  o% 


and  most  popular  preacher  vouchsafed  to  America, 
died  at  his  Brooklyn  home,  Tuesday  morning,  March  . 
8,  1887.  No  more  concise  resume  of  Mr.  Beecher's 
life  can  be  presented  than  the  following  biographical 
sketch  from  the  American  Encyclopoedia  for  the 
present  year : 

"The  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  Avas  born  at  Litch- 
field, Conn.,  June  24,  1813,  and  studied  theology  at 
Lane  Seminary.  Li  1837,  he  became  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Lawrenceburg,  and  in  1839  at 
Indianapolis,  Ind.  In  1847,  he  received  a  call  from  the 
Plymouth  Church  a  new  congregationalist  organiza- 
tion at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Here,  almost  from  the  out- 
set, he  began  to  acquii^e  that  reputation  as  a  pulpit 
orator  which  has  been  maintained  and  increased  dur- 
ing a  quarter  of  a  century.  The  church  and  congre- 
gation under  his  charge  are  probably  the  largest  in 


teachers,  and  the  greatest 


Henry  Ward  Beecher,  675 


America.  He  has  always  discarded  the  mere  con- 
ventionalities of  the  clerical  profession.  In  his  view, 
humor  has  a  place  in  a  sermon  as  well  as  argument 
and  exhortation.  He  is  fond  of  illustration,  drawing 
his  material  from  every  sphere  of  human  life  and 
thought;  and  his  manner  is  highly  dramatic.  Though 
his  keen  sense  of  humor  continually  manifests  itself, 
the  prevailing  impression  given  by  his  discourses  is 
one  of  intense  earnestness.  The  cardinal  idea  of  his 
creed  is  that  Christianity  is  not  a  series  of  i:)hilo- 
sophical  or  metaphysical  dogmas,  but  a  rule  of  life 
in  every  phase.  Hence,  he  has  never  hesitated  to 
discuss  from  the  pulpit  the  great  social  and  political 
questions  of  the  day,  such  as  slavery,  intemperance, 
licentiousness,  the  lust  for  power,  and  the  greed  for 
gain.  He  is  an  enthusiast  in  music,  a  connoisseur  in 
art,  a  lover  of  flowers  and  animals. 

Apart  from  his  purely  professional  labors,  he  is  a 
popular  lecturer  in  lyceums,  and  orator  at  public 
meetings.  Before  beginning  to  preach  he  edited  for 
a  year  (1836)  a  newspaper,  the  Cincinnati  Journal^ 
and  while  pastor  at  Indianapolis,  an  agricultural  jour- 
nal, his  contributions  to  which  were  afterward  pub- 
lished under  the  title:  "Fruits,  Flowers,  and  Farm- 
ing. "  For  nearly  twenty  years  he  was  an  editorial 
contributor  to  Independent^  a  weekly  journal  pub- 
lished in  New  York,  and  from  1861  to  1863  its  editor, 
his  contributions  to  this  were  signed  with  a  star,  and 
many  of  them  were  collected  and  published  as  the 
"  Star  papers."  Since  1870  he  has  been  editor  of  the 
Christian  TJnion^  a  Aveekly  newspaper  published  in 
New  York.    His  regular  weekly  sermons,  as  taken 


676  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


down  by  stenographers,  have  been  printed  since  1859, 
under  the  title  of  "The  Plymouth  Pulpit."  Besides 
these  he  has  published  "  Lectures  to  Young  Men 
"Industry  and  Idleness;"    "Life  Thoughts;"  two 
series  edited  by  Edna  Dean  Proctor,  and  Augusta 
Moore ;"  Sermons  on  Liberty  and  War ;  "  The  Ply- 
mouth Collection  of  Hymns  and  Tunes ;"  "  Norwood,"  i 
a  novel,  originally  published  in  the  New  York  Ledger^ 
to  which  he  was  a  constant  contributor ;  "  Sermons  ] 
from  Published  and  Unpublished  Discourses,"  two 
volumes,  1870 ;  "  Life  of  Christ,"  two  volumes,  1871-2,  , 
and  "  Yale  Lectures  on  Preaching,"  1872.    In  1863,  he  : 
visited  Greab  Britain,  with  a  special  view  to  disabuse  j 
the  public  in  regard  to  the  issues  of  our  civil  war.  j 
His  speeches  exerted  a  wide  influence  in  changing  i 
public  sentiment,  which  had  been  strongly  in  favor  [ 
of  the  Southern  Confederacy.    They  were  published  1 
in  London,  but  have  not  been  reprinted  in  America.  ! 
Last  summer  the  distinguished  preacher  revisited 
Great  Britain,  and  was  received  with  the  greatest  ^ 
enthusiasm."  .  | 

PLYMOUTH  OHXJIICH.  ^ 

On  Saturday  evening,  May  8,  1847,  a  few  gentle-  | 
man  met  in  a  parlor  in  Brooklyn.    Their  purpose  was  I 
to  form  a  new  Congregational  Church.    They  adopted 
this  resolution:  "That  religious  services  should  be  ; 
commenced,  by  divine  permission,  on  Sunday,  the 
16th  day  of  May."    Dr.  S.  H.  Cox,  then  in  his  glory, 
had  outgrown  the  small  brick  church  on  Cranberry 
street.    His  society  had  just  completed  a  stone  edifice 
on  Henry  street.    Mr.  John  T.  Howard,  still  a  lead- 


Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


677 


ing  member  in  Plymouth  Cliurcli,  obtained  the  re- 
fusal of  the  old  house  in  which  the  first  service  of  the 
church  was  held.  Mr.  Beecher  was  pastor  of  a  church 
in  IndianajDolis.  He  was  invited  to  preach  at  the 
opening  of  the  church,  which  he  did,  morning  and 
evening,  to  audiences  which  crowded  every  part  of 
the  building.  The  new  enterprise,  under  the  name 
of  "Plymouth  Church,"  was  organized  on  the  12th 
day  of  June,  1847.  Mr.  Beecher  was  publicly  in- 
stalled on  the  11th  day  of  November  of  the  same 
year.  In  the  month  of  January,  1849,  the  house  of 
worship  was  consumed  by  fire.  On  the  same  site  the 
present  church  edifice  was  erected.  It  has  a  metro- 
politan fame,  and  is  known  in  all  quarters  of  the 
globe. 

Here  is  a  description  of  a  Plymouth  Church  ser- 
vice and  its  late  pastor  in  the  pulpit,  as  written  by 
Matthew  Hale  Smith: 

"No  persons  are  allowed  to  enter  the  church  except 
pew-holders,  till  ten  minutes  before  the  hour  of  ser- 
vice. The  small  upper  gallery,  which  is  free,  is  filled 
at  once.  The  crowd  double-line  the  door,  waiting: 
for  the  moment  of  admission.  As  soon  as  the  bell 
begins  to  toll,  all  seat-holders  who  are  not  in  their 
pews  lose  their  chance.  The  public  are  admitted, 
and  they  come  in  with  a  rush.  The  house  becomes 
one  dense  mass  of  human  beings.  No  aisles  can  be 
seen.  The  ten  inner  doors  of  the  church  are  crowded. 
Ladies  and  gentlemen  sit  on  the  stairs  and  fill  the 
vestibule.  All  the  spaces  in  the  church  are  filled, 
and  standing-room  thankfully  received.  The  services 
are  long,  seldom  less  than  two  hours.    But  the  crowd 


678  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

scarcely  move  till  the  benediction  is  pronounced 
The  organ,  the  largest  in  any  church  in  the  land, 
touched  by  a  master  hand,  witli  a  large,  well-trained  j 
choir,  leads  the  congregation,  which  rises  and  joins  in 
the  song,  and  sends  up  a  volume  of  melody  seldom 
in  power  and  sweetness  equalled  this  side  of  heaven. 
A  basket  of  choice  flowers  stands  on  the  pulpit.  A 
member  of  the  congregation  has  for  many  years 
furnished  this  superb  floral  decoration.    In  che  sum- 
mer he  gathers  the  flowers  from  his  own  garden.  In 
the  winter  he  leaves  a  standing  order  with  the  most  j 
celebrated  florist  of  Brooklyn,  ^vho  executes  it  as  I 
regularly  as  the  Sabbath  dawns. 

MR.   BEECHER  IN  THE  PULPIT. 

In  the  rear  of  the  platform  is  a  small  door,  through  j 

which  the  pastor  usually  enters.    At  the  exact  time  ' 

the  door  slides,  the  chair  is  pushed  suddenly  one  j 

side,  and  the  pastor,  with  an  elastic  bound,  comes  on  ! 

to  the  platform,  hat  in  hand,  which  he  usually  throws  j 

on  the  floor.    He  takes  a  smell  at  the  vase  of  flowers,  j 

gives  a  sharp,  sweeping  glance  over  the  vast  auditory,  I 
and  seats  himself  in  his  chair.    The  congregation  has 

a  fresh,  wide-awake  appearance.    There  is  always  ; 

an  excitement  attending  a  crowd.  Every  portion  of  | 
the  service  interests  and  holds  the  assembly  with  an 

irresistible  power.    A  great  portion  of  the  audience  j 

are  young.    They  crowd  the  chui^ch.  All  the  choir,  i 
compose  the  many  Bible  classes  in  the  Sunday  school, 
and  furnish  the  large  corps  of  teachers.    In  the 
pulpit,  Mr.  Beecher  seems  about  fifty  years  of  age. 

He  is  short  of  stature,  stocky,  but  compactly  built.  , 

His  countenance  is  florid  and  youthful.    He  dresses  ' 


r 


I 


i 


Henry  Ward  Beecher.  679 


in  good  taste,  witliout  display.  A  black  frock  coat, 
pants  and  vest,  collar  of  the  Byron  order,  turned  over 
a  black  cravat,  complete  his  costume.  His  manners 
are  gentle  as  a  woman's,  his  spirit  tender  as  a  child's, 
his  smile  is  winning.  In  the  pulpit  his  manner  is 
reverent  and  impressive.  His  voice  is  not  smooth, 
but  it  is  clear,  and  fills  the  largest  house.  He  is  very 
impressive  in  prayer.  His  words  are  fit  and  beauti- 
ful. He  puts  himself  in  sympathy  with  his  audience, 
and  leads  them,  as  it  were,  to  the  throne  of  grace. 
His  reading  of  the  Word  of  God  would  serve  as  a 
raoclel.  He  rises  from  his  chair,  touches  the  Bible  as 
it  lies  on  his  desk  as  if  it  were  a  sacred  thing,  reads 
with  solemnity,  taste,  and  clear  enunciation  the  pas- 
sage selected,  with  a  heartiness  and  artlessness  that 
attracts  and  holds  the  attention.  In  all  his  public 
services  there  is  an  entire  freedom  from  irreverence, 
vulgarity  or  cant.  In  the  heat  of  his  discourse  he 
appears  like  a  man  engaged  in  a  great  contest.  He 
is  on  fire.  His  face  glows,  his  cheeks  burn,  his  eyes 
flash.  He  stands  erect.  His  antagonist  is  before 
him.  He  measures  him.  He  strikes  squarely  and 
boldly.  The  contest  waxes  hotter.  The  preacher 
and  the  audience  are  in  sympathy.  He  thunders  out 
his  utterances,  and  they  ring  round  the  church,  strike 
the  audience  on  the  sidewalk,  and  arrest  the  passers 
by.  The  sweat  stands  on  his  forehead.  He  stamps 
with  his  foot.  He  thumps  the  hard  desk  with  his 
knuckles.  He  walks  rapidly  to  the  front  of  the  plat- 
form as  if  he  would  walk  off.  He  chases  his  antagonist 
from  one  side  of  the  platform  to  another.  When  he 
lias  floored  him,  he  pauses,  wipes  the  sweat  from  his 


G80 


Wonder,^  of  a  Great  City. 


forehead,  lowers  his  voice,  and  in  his  colloquial  tones 
commences  again.  He  holds  his  audience  completely 
under  his  control.  A  broad  smile,  like  a  flash  of 
sunlight,  glows  on  the  face.  A  laugh  like  the  winds 
of  autumn  among  the  dry  leaves,  shakes  the  vast 
auditory.  Tears  fill  every  eye.  The  preacher  is  at 
times  colloquial,  dogmatic,  vehement,  boisterous,  at 
all  times  impressive. 

ms  SERMONS. 

They  are  after  his  own  order.  He  is  his  own  model. 
No  man  can  tell  what  the  sermon  is  to  be  from  the 
text.  He  has  his  own  modes  of  illustrating  truths. 
He  finds  subjects  in  texts  where  few  men  would  think 
of  looking  for  them.  He  preaches  much  on  the  love 
of  Christ,  the  need  of  regeneration,  and  of  judgment 
to  come.  He  regards  a  Christian  as  a  fully -developed 
man,  and  he  preaches  to  him  as  a  creature  that  has 
civil,  domestic,  and  social  duties,  who  has  a  body, 
intellect,  and  soul  to  be  cared  for.  What  are  called 
"Beecherisms"  are  isolated  sayings  picked  out  from 
their  connection,  which  give  no  more  idea  of  Mr. 
Beecher's  preaching  than  the  eye  of  Venus  on  a 
platter  would  of  its  appearance  in  its  proper  place, 
or  the  head  of  John  the  Baptist  on  a  charger  as  it 
Avould  have  appeared  on  the  shoulders  of  that  mem- 
orable man.  His  utterances  that  startle,  given  in  his 
bold,  energetic,  and  enthusiastic  manner,  enforce 
some  doctrine  or  fasten  some  great  practical  truth. 

One  of  his  most  impressive  methods  is  the  use  he 
makes  of  the  Word  of  God  in  his  sermons.  In  the 
height  of  an  impassioned  appeal  he  will  pause,  and 


Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


681 


in  a  low,  tender  tone,  say,  "Let  us  hear  wliat  the 
Savior  says. "  Taking  up  a  small  Testament  that  lies 
by  his  side,  he  will  read  the  passage  referred  to.  On 
it  he  will  make  a  few  crisp,  pertinent  comments.  His 
elocution  is  peculiar,  and  he  reads  with  good  taste. 
The  idea  that  Jesus  is  speaking  to  them  pervades  the 
assembly.  No  one  doubts  but  that  the  preacher  be- 
lieves he  is  reading  the  words  of  Jesus.  His  low, 
earnest  tones  carry  home  the  Word,  He  concludes. 
A  long,  pent-up  sigh  goes  forth,  indicating  how  deep 
the  interest  of  the  audience  was  in  the  Scripture  read. 

He  has  great  dramatic  power.  It  is  so  clearly 
natural,  unstudied,  and  unavoidable,  that  whether  it 
sends  a  smile  through  the  audience,  or  opens  the 
fountains  of  the  soul  from  whence  tears  flo^v  forth,  it 
is  equally  impressive.  He  imitates  the  manner  and 
tone  of  a  drunken  man  before  a  judge,  a  blacksmith 
at  his  forge,  or  an  artisan  clinching  rivets  inside  a 
steam  boiler.  He  will  imitate  a  backwoodsman 
whacking  away  at  a  big  tree.  He  will  show  how  an 
expert  fisherman  hauls  in  a  huge  salmon  w^ith  dexter- 
ous skilL  He  has  a  peculiar  shrug  of  the  shoulders. 
If  he  speaks  of  hypocrites,  he  will  draw  his  face 
down  to  such  a  length  that  it  is  irresistible.  He  has 
wit,  humor,  and  illustration,  which  keeps  his  audience 
wide  awake.  His  figures,  fresh  and  lively,  are  taken 
from  daily  life,  from  his  rural  home,  his  journeys, 
cold  nights  on  a  steamboat,  or  from  the  marts  of 
trade.  He  knows  human  nature  completely.  The 
sword  of  the  Spirit  in  his  hands  is  the  discerner  of 
the  thoughts  and  intents  of  tlie  heart.  His  figures 
are  fresh,  vivid,  and  varied.    He  keeps  abreast  of 


682 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


affairs  in  the  nation,  in  social  life,  in  tlie  church,  and 
in  the  world.  His  style  of  labor  would  ruin  most 
men.  He  constructs  his  morning  sermon  on  Sunday 
morning.  He  goes  from  his  study  to  his  pulpit  with 
the  performance  hot  from  his  brain.  He  sleeps  at 
noon,  composes  his  evening  discourse  after  his  nap, 
and,  glowing  with  thought  and  excitement,  he  preaches 
his  sermon.  The  sparkle  and  lightning-like  power  of 
some  parts  of  his  sermon  come  from  this  practice. 
He  gives  this  reason  for  it:  "Some  men  like  their 
bread  cold,  some  like  it  hot.    I  like  mine  hot." 

MR.   BEECHEr's  CO  iS" version. 

In  a  season  of  much  religious  interest,  Mr.  Beecher 
gave  this  account  of  his  conversion.  Family  influence 
led  him  into  the  church.    He  was  a  professor  before  : 
he  was  a  Christian.    He  tried  to  do  his  duty,  but  he  i 
did  not  know  his  Savior,  and  had  no  joy  in  his  ser- 
vice.   He  was  at  Amherst  College  when  a  powerful 
revival  of  religion  broke  out.  He  was  deeply  moved. 
He  passed  days  in  agony,  and  kneeled  by  the  side  of 
his  bed  for  hours  in  prayer.    He  was  as  one  alone  in  \ 
a  dark  and  lonely  castle,  wandering  from  room  to 
room,  sick,  cold,  and  in  terror.    He  called  on  the  ! 
president  of  the  college.    This  was  a  great  cross,  as  ' 
he  was  known  to  be  a  member  of  the  church.  The 
president  shook  his  head  as  Mr.  Beecher  told  him  his 
condition,  and  refused  to  interfere,  lest  he  should 
grieve  the  Holy  Spirit.    Mr.  Beecher  went  home  no 
better,  but  rather  worse.    He  attended  the  village 
church.    He  remained  among  the  inquirers.  The 
minister,  talking  with  the  anxious,  came  within  one 
pew  of  him,  and  then  went  back  to  the  pulpit.  The 


Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


683 


college  course  was  completed,  and  Mr.  Beecher  was 
not  converted. 

At  Cincinnati  lie  began  the  study  of  theology.  His 
father's  influence  led  him  to  that  course.  He  entered 
the  Seminary  to  please  his  father,  but  did  not  intend 
to  be  a  minister.  He  not  only  was  not  a  Christian, 
but  he  was  skeptical.  One  of  his  brothers  had  swung 
off  into  skepticism,  and  should  another  openly  follow, 
he  thought  it  would  break  his  father's  heart.  So  he 
became  a  student  in  theology.  Some  ladies,  belong- 
ing to  the  first  families  in  Cincinnati,  invited  him  to 
become  their  Bible-class  teacher.  How  could  he  teach 
what  he  did  not  know,  or  enforce  what  he  did  not 
believe?  He  was  a  member  of  the  church,  and  a 
theological  student,  and  he  could  not  honorably  de- 
cline. All  he  need  do  Avas  to  tell  the  class  what  the 
Gospels  contained.  He  need  not  tell  them  whafc  he 
thought  of  them.  He  studied  and  collated  the  Gos- 
pels. He  put  together  all  the  passages,  hints,  scraps, 
and  facts  that  bore  on  the  character  of  Jesus,  and  his 
relation  to  lost  men.  In  this  study  Jesus  appeared 
to  him.  He  smote  the  rock,  and  the  waters  gushed 
out.  He  saw  the  Savior,  with  all  his  love  and  com- 
passion, and  fell  at  his  feet  to  adore.  "  Never,  till  I 
get  home, "  said  Mr.  Beecher,  "  will  I  have  brighter 
visions  of  my  Redeemer.  I  saw  Jesus  in  all  things — 
in  the  flowers,  in  the  fruits,  in  the  trees,  in  the  sky, 
and,  above  all  things,  in  the  gospel.  Years  ago,  in 
my  deep  anguish  at  Amherst,  had  some  one  said  to 
me,  'Young  man,  behold  the  Lamb  of  God,'  1  should 
have  then  found  the  Savior,  and  have  been  spared 
years  of  darkness,  anguish  and  sorrow."    This  state- 


G84 


Wonders'  of  a  Great  City. 


ment  was  made  by  Mr.  Beecher  while  lie  was  deeply 
affected.  Tears  coursed  down  his  cheeks.  His  emo- 
tions, at  times,  forbade  his  utterance;  while  the  great 
audience  heard,  with  hushed  attention,  this  revelation 
of  his  religious  experience. 

HIS  FIRST  ENGLISH  TOUR. 

At  the  l)eginning  of  the  war  Mr.  Beecher,  with  a 
view  of  possessing  a  ready  medium  for  his  opinions, 
took  the  editorship  of  the  Indejye^ident,  which  increased 
under  his  guidance  to  an  important  power.  Mean- 
while, beside  the  care  of  his  pastorate,  he  was  con- 
stantly delivering  speeches.  At  length  his  health 
began  to  fail.  His  voice  gave  way,  and  he  was  im- 
peratively commanded  to  seek  rest.  To  recruit  his 
exhausted  energies  he  sailed  for  Europe,  little  think- 
ing then  that  the  journey  was  to  give  him  a  world 
wide  instead  of  a  National  reputation.  The  steamer 
had  hardly  made  fast  to  the  docks  at  Liverpool  be- 
fore some  friends  of  American  liberty  sought  him  out 
to  make  arrangements  for  his  speaking  in  England. 
He  declined,  urging  his  enfeebled  health  and  saying 
he  had  come  abroad  simply  and  solely  foi-  rest  and 
recreation.  After  a  short  visit  to  C.  G.  Duncan,  a 
former  American  friend  and  parishioner  then  in  Eng- 
land, Mr.  Beecher  spent  a  fortnight  in  Wales,  and 
then  traveled  through  Germany,  Switzerland,  and 
Italy.  A  second  request  to  speak  in  public  on  his  re- 
turn  to  England  was  again  declined.  But  Newman 
Hall,  Francis  Newman,  Baptist  Noel,  and  other 
prominent  Englishmen  and  Americans  living  in  Eng- 
land, urged  that  he  owed  a  duty  to  the  small  party 
of  resolute  union-lovers  who  were  maintaining  the 


Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


685 


cause  of  America  iu  England  against  overwhelming 
odds.  Mr.  Beecher  yielded,  and  engaged  himself  to 
speak  in  the  principal  cities  of  England  and  Scotland. 

In  order  to  fully  comprehend  the  magnitude  of  the 
work  on  which  Mr,  Beecher  had  entered,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  recall  the  state  of  feeling  in  England  at  that 
time.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  wrote  after  Mr. 
Beecher's  return  :  "  The  devil  had  got  the  start  of 
the  clergyman,  as  he  very  often  does  after  all.  The 
wretches  who  have  been  for  three  years  pouring  their 
leprous  distilment  into  the  ears  of  Great  Britain  had 
preoccupied  the  ground  and  were  determined  to 
silence  the  minister  if  they  could.  For  this  purpose 
they  looked  to  the  heathen  populace  of  the  nominally 
Christian  British  cities.  They  covered  the  walls  with 
blood-red  placards,  they  stimulated  the  mob  by 
inflammatory  appeals,  they  filled  the  air  w4th  threats 
to  riot  and  murder.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  scenes 
like  these  that  the  single  solitary  American  opened 
his  lips  to  speak  in  behalf  of  his  country.*"  Howling 
mobs,  urged  on  and  rewarded  by  paid  tools  of  the 
South,  crowded  into  Mr,  Beecher' s  meetings,  fighting 
and  picking  pockets  by  way  of  relaxation,  and  sought 
in  a  fury  of  blind  and  unreasonable  rage  to  drive  the 
preacher  from  the  platform.  "  I  had,"  he  wrote  him, 
"  to  speak  extempore  on  subjects  the  most  delicate 
and  difficult  as  between  our  two  nations,  where  even 
the  shading  of  my  words  was  of  importance,  and  yet 
I  had  to  outscream  a  mob  and  drown  the  roar  of  a 
multitude.  The  streets  of  Manchester  and  Liverpool 
have  been  filled  with  placards  full  of  lies  and  bitter- 
ness.   For  hours  I  have  striven  to  speak  amid  inter- 


686 


Wonders  of  a  Ore  at  City, 


ruptions  of  every  kind — yellings,  hootings,  cat-calls 
derisive  yells,  impertinent  and  insulting  questions 
and  every  conceivable  annoyance — some  personal 
violence. " 

It  was  on  Friday,  Oct,  9,  1863,  in  the  Free  Trade 
Hall,  in  Manchester,  that  Mr.  Beecher  delivered  his 
first  spe'ech  to  a  stormy  audience  of  6,000  people. 
This  speech  was  printed  in  full  on  the  following  day 
in  the  London  Times^  which  devoted  a  column  or  two 
of  its  space  to  abuse  of  speech  and  orator. 

On  October  13,  Mr.  Beecher  was  invited  to  a  tem- 
perance meeting  in  Glasgow,  which  assumed  a  politi- 
cal character.  His  speech  was  almost  conversational 
in  character,  and  appears  to  have  been  entirely  un- 
premeditated. The  quietest  meeting  that  he  addressed^ 
w\as  in  the  Free  Church  Assembly  Hall  at  Edinburgh 
on  the  next  day,  October  14.  But  the  mobs  of  Liver- 
pool w^ere  in  waiting  for  him,  and  his  address  in  that 
city  was  the  stormiest  struggle  that  he  passed  through. 
By  dint  of  cheerful  perseverance,  fearlessness,  and  a 
powerful  voice,  Mr.  Beecher  said  his  say.  "I  stood 
ill  Liverpool,"  he  wrote  in  a  letter,  "and  looked  on 
the  demoniac  scene  without  a  thought  that  it  was  me 
who  was  present.  It  seemed  rather  like  a  storm 
raging  in  the  trees  of  the  forests,  that  roared  and  im- 
peded my  progress,  but  yet  had  matters  personal  or 
wilful  in  it  against  me.  You  know  how,  w^hen  we 
are  lifted  by  the  inspiration  of  a  great  subject,  and 
by  almost  visible  presence  and  vivid  sympathy  with 
Christ,  the  mind  forgets  the  sediments  and  dregs  of 
trouble  and  sails  serenely  in  an  upper  realm  of  peace, 
as  untouched  by  the  noise  below  as  is  a  bird  that 


Henry  Ward  Beeceer. 


687 


flies  across  a  battle-field.  Oh,  my  friend,  I  have  felt 
an  inexpressible  wonder  that  God  should  give  it  to 
me  to  do  something  for  the  dear  land.  When  some- 
times the  idea  of  being  clothed  with  the  power  to 
stand  up  in  this  great  kingdom  against  an  inconceiv- 
able violence  of  prejudice  and  mistake,  and  clear  the 
name  of  my  dishonored  country,  and  let  her  brow 
shine  forth,  crowned  with  liberty,  glowing  w^ith  love 
to  man.  Oh,  I  have  seemed  unable  to  live,  almost. 
Ifc  almost  took  my  breath  away!  I  have  not  in  a  single 
•  instance  gone  to  the  speaking  halls  without  all  the 
way  breathing  to  God  unutterable  desires  for  inspira- 
tion, guidance,  and  success ;  and  I  have  had  no  dis- 
turbance of  personality.  I  have  been  willing,  yea, 
with  eagerness,  to  be  myself  contemptible  in  man's 
sight,  if  only  my  disgrace  might  be  to  the  honor  of 
that  cause  which  is  intrusted  to  our  own  thrice  dear 
country. " 

On  Tuesday,  October  20,  Mr.  Beech er's  series  of 
addresses  culminated  in  his  last  and  greatest  effort 
at  Exeter  Hall,  London.  Mr.  Beecher  had  won  the 
sympathy  of  his  hearers  at  last.  He  wrote  home  tlie 
next  day:  "Even  an  American  Avould  be  impressed 
by  the  enthusiasm  of  so  much  of  England  as  the 
people  last  night  represented  for  tlie  North.  It  was 
more  than  willing,  than  hearty,  than  even  eager ;  it 
was  almost  wild  and  fanatical.  I  was  like  to  have 
been  killed  with  people  pressing  to  shake  my  hand  ; 
men,  women,  and  children  crowded  up  the  platform. 
I  was  shaken,  pinched,  squeezed,  in  every  way  an 
affectionate  enthusiasm  could  devise,  until  the  police 
actually  came  to  my  rescue  and  dragged  me  down  to 


088 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


the  retiring  room,  where  gentlemen  brought  their 
wives,  (laughters,  sons,  and  selves  for  a  God  bless 
you!  England  will  be  enthusiastically  right  pro- 
vided we  hold  on  and  gain  victories.  But  England 
has  an  intense  and  yearning  sense  of  the  value  of 
success."  One  passage  in  this  last  speech  should  be 
remembered:  "Standing  by  my  cradle,  standing  by 
my  hearth,  standing  by  the  altar  of  the  church, 
standing  by  all  the  places  that  mark  the  name  and 
memory  of  heroic  men  who  poured  their  blood  and 
lives  for  principle,  I  declare  that  in  ten  or  twenty 
years  of  w^ar  we  will  sacrifice  everything  we  have  for 
principle. 

If  the  love  of  popular  liberty  is  dead  in  Great 
Britain,  you  will  not  understand  us,  but  if  the  love  of 
liberty  lives  as  it  once  lived  and  has  worthy  suc- 
cessors of  those  renowned  men  that  were  our  ancestors 
as  much  as  yours,  and  whose  example  and  principles 
we  inherit  to  make  fruitful  as  so  much  seed  corn  in  a 
new  and  fertile  land,  then  3^011  will  understand  our 
firm,  invinci1>le  determination — deep  as  the  sea,  firm 
as  the  mountains,  but  calm  as  the  heavens  above  us 
— to  fight  this  war  through  at  all  hazards  and  at 
every  cost."  The  splendor  of  these  words  swept  even 
the  phlegmatic  Englishmen  of?  their  feet.  The  en- 
thusiasm of  an  audience  spell-bound  by  oratory  can 
not,  of  course,  be  taken  as  a  fair  example  of  the  re- 
sult of  Mr.  Beech er's  work  in  England,  but  in  his 
moral  embassy,  preaching  the  great  universal  truths 
of  humanity,  he  certainly  influenced  greatly  the  Eng- 
lish middle  classes  and  afEected  somewhat  the  tone 
of  public  thought 


Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


689 


RECONSTRUCTION  WORK. 

On  Mr.  Beecher's  return  from  England,  wearied 
and  exhausted  as  he  was,  his  overtaxed  energies  were 
forced  to  meet  the  strain  of  receptions  and  public 
speeches.  He  delivered  addresses  at  the  Academy 
of  Music  and  elsewhere  to  wildly  enthusiastic  audi- 
ences, recounting  his  experiences  in  England  and 
speaking  on  the  state  of  public  opinion.  Soon  after 
the  close  of  the  war  he  made  a  visit  to  the  South. 
He  went  to  Fort  Sumter  with  Garrison  and  many 
others  to  raise  again  the  National  flag.  In  one  of 
the  largest  churches  in  South  Carolina  he  preached  to 
an  immense  congregation  of  liberated  slaves.  Then 
the  assassination  of  Lincoln  cast  a  chill  over  the 
whole  civilized  world,  and  Mr.  Beecher,  as  one  of  the 
Nation's  chief  mourners,  poured  out  a  people's  deep 
grief  from  his  pulpit.  The  reconstruction  period 
under  Johnson  came  on.  Then  Mr.  Beecher  took  a 
position  that  was  unpalatable  to  a  large  part  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  delivered  a  sermon  on  the 
forgiveness  of  injuries,  and  quoted  the  existing  crisis 
as  a  fitting  occasion  for  applying  the  doctrine,  and  in 
the  well-known  Cleveland  letter  he  emphasized  his 
position.  The  frank  expression  of  his  views  caused 
a  disagreement  with  Henry  C.  Bowen,  the  editor  of 
the  Independent^  to  which  Mr.  Beecher  had  continued 
to  contribute,  and  then  the  Christian  Union  was 
born. 

After  the  agitation  that  followed  the  close  of  the 
war  had  subsided,  Mr.  Beecher's  political  life  was  less 
active,  although  he  always  used  his  voice  and  in- 


690 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


fluence  in  the  pulpit  and  elsewhere  to  promote  the 
success  of  a  cause  he  approved.  He  more  than  ever 
devoted  his  energies  to  the  pastoral  work  of, his  own 
church.  There  was  a  large  revival  in  1866,  which 
was  succeeded  in  later  years  by  many  others.  In 
Plymouth  Church,  which  always  was  in  a  way  a 
temperance  and  anti-slavery  society,  the  triumph  of 
the  latter  cause  gave  a  larger  opportunity  for  chari- 
table work.  Missions  were  started  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  church  with  reading  rooms,  and  the  time  and 
labor  of  members  of  the  church  were  devoted  to 
missionary  work  and  lay  teaching.  The  sale  of  seats, 
which  supports  the  church,  amounted,  even  in  1867, 
to  $50,000.  The  weekly  prayer-meetings,  conducted 
like  the  conversation  of  the  family  circle,  early 
formed  a  feature  in  the  church.  In  the  Sunday 
school,  Bible  classes,  and  social  gatherings  as  well, 
Mr.  Beecher  was  active  from  the  first.  But  there 
were  many  sides  to  his  life.  Winter  after  winter  he 
continued  his  lecture  tours  throughout  the  country, 
which  were  begun  before  the  war.  Always  popular, 
he  drew  great  audiences  constantly.  At  public  meet- 
ings, at  temperance  assemblies,  and  at  great  dinners, 
particularly  those  of  the  New  England  Society,  Mr. 
Beecher  was  a  regular  speaker.  One  of  his  most 
eloquent  addresses  here  was  at  a  mass  meeting  held 
to  take  action  in  regard  to  the  old  Five  Points. 
From  his  almost  ceaseless  activity  with  voice  and 
pen  he  escaped  whenever  escape  was  possible  to  his 
Peekskill  farm,  where  he  revelled  in  the  flowers  and 
vegetables,  the  prize  cattle,  the  fresh  air,  and  the 
out-of-door  life  in  which  his  soul  delighted.  Later 


Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


691 


some  of  his  summers  were  spent  in  the  White  Moun- 
tains, and  many  summer  travelers  will  remember  Mr. 
Beecher's  sermons  at  the  Twin  Mountain  House. 
Strongly  domestic  as  well  as  social  in  his  tastes,  his 
home  life  and  the  life  in  the  circle  of  warm  friends 
about  him  was  a  delightful  one.  The  years  passing 
one  by  one  left  him  still  energetic,  active,  intense  in 
everything,  happy  in  his  work ;  his  church  prosper- 
ing, his  fame  spreading. 

THE  BEECHEE-TILTON  TRIAL. 

In  1851,  a  bright,  young  stenographer,  only  16 
years  of  age,  Theodore  Til  ton  by  name,  came  into 
Plymouth  Church  to  take  down  Mr.  Beecher's  ser- 
mons for  publication,  a  practice  which  was  then  a 
novelty.  He  was  then  engaged  by  Henry  C.  Bo  wen, 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  church  upon  the  Inde- 
pendent^ of  which  journal  Mr.  Bowen  was  a  proprietor 
and  in  1861,  he  succeeded  Mr.  Beecher  as  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  paper.  He  developed  considerable  power 
as  a  writer  and  speaker,  especially  in  the  anti-slavery 
contest,  and  gained  the  warm  friendship  of  Mr. 
Beecher,  who  regarded  him  as  "one  of  my  boys." 
Toward  1870,  some  difference  arose  between  Mr. 
Bowen,  then  sole  proprietor  of  the  Independent^  and 
Mr.  Beecher.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Til  ton's  domestic  life 
w^as  not  a  happy  one.  In  December,  1870,  Mrs.  Til- 
ton  left  her  husband's  house  and  sought  her  mother's 
protection.  Mr.  Beecher  was  consulted  and  finally 
counselled  a  separation,  and  the  rupture  between 
Tilton  and  Mr.  Beecher  w^as  complete.  Mr.  Tilton 
obtained  possession  of  his  infant  child  in  its  mother's 


692  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


absence,  and  then  the  mother  returned  to  him.  At 
this-  time  Mr.  Tilton  had  retired  from  the  editorship 
of  the  Iiidejyendent,  to  which,  however,  he  still  con- 
tinued to  contribute,  and  was  editor-in-chief  of  the 
BrooTdyii  Union^  of  which  Mr.  Bowen  was  one  of  the 
proprietors.  To  Mr.  Bowen  came  stories  prejudicial 
to  Tilton's  moral  character  and  he  meditated  dismiss- 
ing him.  An  interview  was  held  on  Dec.  2G,  1870, 
in  the  course  of  which  the  conversation  passed  from 
the  immediate  topic  to  the  necessity  of  frequent 
notices  of  Plymouth  Church  and  its  pastor  in  the 
Brooldyn  Union,  Tilton  objected  and  charged  Mr. 
Beecher  with  "dishonorable  conduct  toward  his  wife." 
Bringing  pen  and  paper,  Mr.  Bowen  invited  Tilton 
to  write  a  letter  demanding  that  Mr.  Beecher  resign 
from  Plymouth  Church  and  leave  the  Christian  Union. 
Tilton  did  so.  Mr.  Bowen  took  the  letter  to  Mr. 
Beecher,  who  read  it  and  said:  "This  is  sheer  in- 
sanity; this  man  is  crazy."  Soon  afterward  Tilton 
was  dismissed  from  both  the  positions  which  he  held. 
It  was  now  necessary  for  him  to  submit  evidence 
against  Mr.  Beecher  or  to  confess  himself  a  slanderer. 
He  sought  this  from  his  wife.  As  to  what  the  pre- 
cise confession  then  obtained  fi^om  her  was  the  testi- 
mony conflicted.  The  letter  was  two  years  afterward 
destroyed.  The  progress  of  events  was  not  rapid. 
Mrs.  Tilton  retracted  in  Mr.  Beecher's  presence  every 
accusation  made  against  him;  Francis  D.  Moulton 
appeared  as  the  "mutual  friend;"  Mr.  Beecher  made 
a  tumultuous  expression  of  grief  and  shame,  of  which 
Mr.  Moulton  took  down  a  statement;  Mr.  Tilton  and 
Mr.  Beecher  met  and  a  reconciliation  was  effected. 


Henry  Ward  Beecher. 


693 


A  new  paper  called  the  Golden  Age  started  witli 
Tilton  at  its  head,  for  which  purpose  Mr.  Beecher  and 

I friends  of  Mr.  Moulton  contributed  sums  of  money. 
On  April  2,  1872,  the  "tripartite  covenant"  between 
Beecher,  Bowen  and  Tilton  was  signed,  promising 
silence  as  to  the  past  and  good  will  for  the  future. 
But  ugly  rumors  began  to  be  heard,  Tilton  aided 
i  j  their  distribution,  Mr.  Beecher' s  friends  became  un- 
easy,and  in  1873  he  broke  silence  with  a  card  of  denial. 
Tilton  was  charged  in  the  church  with  being  a  slander- 
er of  his  pastor,  and  his  name  was  stricken  from  the 
i  rolls.  But  more  was  demanded.  An  ecclesiastical 
D  council  was  called,  nominally  in  regard  to  the  irregu- 
larity of  this  proceeding,  really  to  make  some  attempt 
at  an  investigation.  Its  work  amounted  to  nothing, 
except  to  deepen  the  uneasy  feeling  that  some  great 
scandal  was  about  to  be  brought  to  light.  Then 
Tilton,  to  clear  himself,  published  the  Bacon  letter, 
the  first  of  the  statements  preceding  the  trial,  in  which 
he  quoted  from  Mr.  Beecher's  alleged  confession  of 
Jan.  1,  1871.  Mr.  Beecher  at  once  took  action  and 
demanded  an  investigation,  which  six  well-known 
members  of  Plymouth  Church  were  appointed  to 
conduct.  Another  effort  to  compromise  the  matter 
was  made  in  vain,  and  at  last,  in  August,  1874,  four 
years  and  more  after  the  wrong  was  charged  to  have 
been  committed,  Tilton  brought  his  suit.  The  charge 
of  adultery  was  first  publicly  preferred  in  July,  1874, 
and  the  complaint  served  in  August,  when  issue  was 
immediately  joined.  The  trial  was  begun  in  January, 
1875.  Subjects  were  dealt  with  extending  over  five 
or  six  years.    About  250  documents  were  introduced 


694 


Wonders  of  a  Ore  at  City, 


and  analyzed.  More  than  100  different  inter\new8 
were  examined  into,  and  in  respect  to  many  of  them 
the  sworn  testimony  of  witnesses  was  in  irrecon- 
cilable disagreement.  Printed  in  small  type,  the 
testimony  that  was  publislied  filled  3,000  foolscap 
pages,  and  the  report  of  the  proceedings  would  fill 
four  or  five  large  legal  volumes.  Over  150  distinct 
rulings  on  points  of  law  were  made  by  the  judge, 
which  were  noted  by  the  defendant's  counsel,  and 
nearly  as  many  questions  were  raised  and  decided 
during  the  defendant's  presentation  of  his  case. 

Judge  Nelson  sat  upon  the  bench.  The  most  eminent 
counsel  were  employed  on  either  side.  For  Tilton 
appeared  General  Roger  Pryor,  a  man  of  wide  learn- 
ing and  active  mind ;  Judge  Fullerton,  a  master  of 
the  art  of  cross-questioning,  and  Mr.  Beach,  a  sharp, 
pithy,  and  forcible  speaker. 

Mr.  Beecher.  was  represented  by  Senator  Wm.  M. 
Everts,  who  gained  new  laurels  as  an  advocate  before 
a  jury;  Austin  Abbott,  distinguished  for  his  legal 
learning  and  the  publications  bearing  his  name,  whose 
foresight  and  system  were  apparent  in  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  defendant's  case ;  Mr.  Porter,  quick  to  see 
and  decide  upon  knotty  points,  and  Mr.  Tracy,  an 
effective  orator.  The  positions  of  the  persons  inter- 
ested, the  differing  characteristics  of  the  multitudi- 
nous witnesses,  the  crowds  of  prominent  men  from 
all  parts  of  the  country  ^vho  packed  the  court-room 
daily,  and  the  wholesale  publicity  given  by  the  press, 
all  combined  to  make  this  trial  a  striking  and  unpre- 
cedented event. 

From  January  until  June  the  lawyers  struggled 


Henry  Ward  Beecher.  695' 


and  a  curious  public  gloated  over  tlie  daily  details  of 
the  great  scandal.  Then  came  the  summing  up  on 
each  side  and  the  Judge's  charge.  The  deliberations 
of  the  jury  continued  for  eight  days.  Fifty-two 
ballots  were  taken,  the  first  and  last  being  nine  for 
Mr.  Beecher  and  three  for  Tilton.  On  one  ballot  the 
jury  stood  eleven  to  one,  and  on  another  seven  to 
five  in  favor  of  Mr.  Beecher.  After  the  close  of  this 
trial  the  matter  was  taken  up  by  the  Grand  Jury, 
which  called  Mr.  Beecher  a3  a  witness  and  found  an 
indictment  against  Francis  D.  Moulton  for  libel.  The 
District  Attorney,  however,  never  brought  the  case  to 
trial,  and  after  he  had  ofiicially  indicated  this  decision 
by  entering  a  nolle  prosequi,  Moulton  brought  suit 
against  Mr.  Beecher  for  malicious  prosecution,  Mr. 
Beecher's  counsel  defending  him  vigorously  and 
Moulton  abandoned  his  suit.  Another  confession 
was  claimed  to  have  been  made  by  Mrs.  Tilton  after 
the  trial,  which  was  met  by  Mr.  Beecher  with*  an  ex- 
plicit denial.  A  great  ecclesiastical  council  was  held, 
which  exonerated  Mr.  Beecher. 

ME.  beecher' S  BELIEF. 

When  Mr.  Beecher  was  most  severely  criticised  by 
his  Congregational  brethren  for  what  they  were 
pleased  to  term  his  heterodoxy,  about  five  years  ago, 
he  preached  a  series  of  sermons,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  anniversary  sermon  made  this  explanation : 
"This  month  completes  the  thirty-fifth  year  in  which 
I  have  been  the  preacher  in  this  church — since  the  3d 
day  of  October,  1847.  I  have  not  changed  the  line 
of  my  preaching  from  that  day.    I  have  adopted  no 


696  Wonders  of  a  Ore  at  City, 

new  tiling  that  I  had  not  at  least  some  conception  of 
in  my  mind  when  I  came  here.  I  think  I  could  say 
of  one-half  my  sernaons  of  thirty -five  years  ago,  '  I 
believe  them  still,'  and  of  the  other  half,  poor  as  they 
are  and  imperfect,  yet  I  believed  always  that  I  was 
attempting  to  preach  the  truth  of  the  power  of  God 
for  the  salvation  of  men.  Nobody  can  put  a  lower 
estimate  upon  his  ministry  than  I  do.  It  is  veiy  lit- 
tle to  me  what  men  think  about  that.  I  am  not  to  be 
judged  by  being  compared  with  other  men,  but  with 
God  and  by  the  work  I  have  done.  I  have  never 
preached  what  I  did  not  believe ;  I  have  never  asked 
myself  whether  to  preach  a  truth  that  I  did  believe 
would  be  popular  or  unpopular.  I  have  never  been 
afraid  of  man,  though  I  have  been  afraid  of  God  as 
the  child  is  afraid  of  the  father  it  loves.  The  whole 
conception  of  life  that  I  have  had  has  been  to  serve 
my  fellow  men,  and  when,  in  the  day  that  men 
despised  the  poor,  oppressed  negroes,  that  could  not 
plead  their  own  cause,  I  was  more  than  willing,  I 
was  inexpressibly  grateful  to  be  permitted  to  stand 
for  them,  and  not  to  forsake  them  until  they  were 
clothed  in  the  majesty  of  equal  rights  by  the  great 
revolution.  I  attempted  all  my  life  long  to  take  the 
part  of  those  who  had  no  defender ;  and  I  have  done 
it.  And  in  all  matters  in  my  own  church  I  have 
steadily  sought  one  thing — to  reproduce,  so  far  as  I 
was  able  to  reproduce,  the  lineaments  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  your  hearts.  If  the  day  should  come 
when  I  could  not  avail  myself  of  every  revelation  of 
God  in  nature — if  the  day  should  come  in  which  you 
would  not  bear  or  forbear,  I  should  (Jepart.   I  should 


Henry  Ward  Beecher.  697 


say,  my  work  is  done,  the  harvest  is  gathered,  and 
my  life  is  ended. " 

LAST  MOMENTS. 

Mr.  Beecher  succumbed  to  a  stroke  of  apoplexy. 
His  death  was  quiet  and  painless.  It  was  like  pass- 
ing into  a  deep  and  dreamless  sleep.  After  four  days 
of  unconsciousness  the  end  came,  as  he  had  always 
expressed  a  desire  that  it  should  come — without  any 
lingering  with  waning  powers  and  enfeebled  frame. 
The  prolonged  suspense  caused  by  his  critical  condi- 
tion ended  with  a  sense  of  relief  that  no  more  suffer- 
ing was  to  be  endured.  His  marvelous  vitality  was 
shown  by  the  prolonged  period  during  which  he 
lingered  after  the  fatal  attack.  The  end  came  at  9:30 
o'clock.  A  ray  of  sunlight,  full  and  strong,  flashed 
into  the  dying  man's  bed-chamber  through  the  win- 
dow, just  as  his  last  breath  was  drawn.  Calmly,  and 
with  no  struggle,  the  regular  breathing  ceased  and 
the  great  preacher  was  no  more.  About  the  bed  were 
grouped  the  sorrowing  members  of  the  great  preach- 
er's family.  Mr.  Beecher's  long  gray  hair  lay  on  the 
pillow,  brushed  back  in  its  customary  fashion  from 
the  broad  brow.  The  face,  though  worn  by  the  ter- 
rible illness  and  lack  of  nourishment,  looked  peace- 
ful and  noble.  The  blue  eyes  which  had  looked  for  ^ 
the  last  time  on  earthly  scenes  were  closed,  and  the 
eloquent  tongue  was  silent  forever.  On  the  side  of 
the  bed  sat  the  aged  wife,  supported  by  her  grand- 
daughter. Miss  Kate  Beecher ;  while  another  grand- 
daughter, Miss  Hattie  Beecher  Scoville,  knelt  with 
her  head  in  her  lap.    Mrs.  Scoville,  Mr.  Beecher's 


698 


Wonders  of  a  Ore  at  City. 


daughter,  sat  beside  her  father's  head,  with  her  hus- 
band supporting  her.  The  two  elder  sons.  Colonel 
H.  B.  Beecher,  and  "William  C.  Beecher,  with  their 
wives,  were  part  of  the  family  group  together  with 
the  rest  of  the  grand-children  and  a  niece  of  Mrs. 
Beecher.  The  others  in  the  room  were  Dr.  Searle, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  V.  White,  the  Eev.  S.  B.  Halliday, 
E.  A.  Seacomb,  J.  B.  Pond,  and  the  family  servants. 
All  eyes  were  wet  with  sympathetic  tears.  With 
supernatural  strength,  Mrs.  Beecher  sustained  the 
trying  ordeal  and  kissed  her  husband  farewell.  The 
children  and  grand- children  did  the  same,  and  one  by 
one  they  left  the  chamber  of  death.  The  only  con- 
solation in  the  final  s^ene  was  that  the  death  which 
Mr.  Beecher  had  always  expressed  a  wish  to  come 
to  him  had  been  his.    He  died  March  8,  1887. 

Mr.  Beecher's  funeral  occurred  the  following  Thurs- 
day forenoon,  under  the  direction  of  the  Eev.  Charles 
H.  Hall,  of  Holy  Trinity  Church.  The  remains  were 
escorted  to  the  church  by  the  Thirteenth  Regiment, 
of  which  Mr.  Beecher  was  chaplain,  and  thence  to 
Greenwood.  There  were  no  pall-bearers  or  black 
drapery,  in  conformity  with  Mr.  Beecher's  wishes, 
who  had  frequently  during  life  said :  "Strew  flowers 
on  my  grave,  but  let  no  heathenish  practice  prevail 
of  draping  in  black  as  a  token  of  sorrow  when  a  man 
has  passed  through  death  to  eternal  life. " 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 
DASHES  HERE  AND  THERE. 


A.  CRAZE  AMONG  THE  "WOMEN  FOR  COSMETICS — HAVING  THE  SKIN  BtJRNED 
FROM  THEIR  FACES  IN  ORDER  TO  IMPROVE  THE  COMPLEXION — HOW 
FAMILIES  THRIVE  ON  CANAL  BOATS  IN  WINTER— MELTING  DOWN 
TRADE  DOLLARS — PIGEON  FLYING — FANCY  CLOCKS  —  IVORY  WORK — 
"memory.'' — TOYS  IN  TEA  STORES,  ETC. 

LOVELY  woman  is  easily  discouraged  or  fright- 
ened by  little  tilings,  but  when  she  starts  out 
in  quest  of  greater  personal  beauty  there  is  no  danger 
that  she  will  not  brave,  no  sacrifice  which  she  is  not 
willing  to  make,  so  long  as  the  object  of  her  yearn- 
ing is  in  view.  This  is  pretty  well  understood,  and 
yet  credulity  will  be  taxed  d  little  when  the  state- 
ment is  made  that  in  order  to  gain  that  boon  to 
woman — a  good  complexion — she  will  submit  to  have 
all  the  skin  taken  off  her  face.  What  do  you  think 
of  that?  Of  course  you  don't  believe  it,  and  you 
are  exclaiming,  "Pretty  way  to  get  a  nice  complexion 
that  would  be!"  And  yet  that  is  just  what  is  being 
done.  Face-bleaching  is  the  very  latest  craze  among 
women,  whose  yearning  to  be  beautiful  is  so  strong 
that  they  are  willing  to  go  to  extremes,  and  the  craze 
is  extending  to  the  ranks  of  women  who  have  here- 
tofore looked  upon  as  disgraceful  the  use  of  cosmetics 


700  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  any  kind.  The  skillful  circular  and  testimonial, 
writer  has  succeeded  in  making  the  advertisements 
so  attractive  and  plausible  that  even  very  nice  women 
are  caught  on  the  alluring  hook.  And  no  wonder, 
for  in  the  face  bleachery  which  I  visited  one  recent 
afternoon  was  to  be  seen  living  evidence  of  the  really 
wonderful  results  which  may  be  obtained  by  the  new- 
est process  of  beautifying. 

In  a  cozy  little  parlor  in  the  fourth  story  of  a 
Twenty-third  street  block,  I  one  day,  not  many  weeks 
ago,  found  a  cosmetique  who  advertises  herself  as  the 
sole  agent  for  the  cosmetics  and  toilet  articles '  of  a- 
famous  Parisian  beautifier.  The  Madame  was  busy 
pasting  labels  on  a  number  of  bottles  containing  a 
milky-looking  liquid.  "Face  Bleach"  was  printed  on 
the  labels  in  large  black  letters,  followed  by  an  as 
surance  to  the  ladies  of  the  miracles  the  contents  were 
sure  to  perform,  and  with  the  price,  $3  for  a  small 
bottle  and  $6  for  a  large  one,  also  quite  conspicuous. 

"How  much  of  that  label  is  true,  you  ask?  Every 
word  of  it,"  exclaimed  the  busy  Madame.  "The 
liquid  in  these  bottles  does  just  what  we  recommend 
for  it.  It  is  really  wonderful,  as  it  takes  off  every 
bit  of  the  old  skin  and  leaves  a  beautiful  new  face  in 
its  place.  Rather  severe,  isn't  it  ?  But  it  doesn't 
hurt  a  bit;  and  then,  just  think,  after  the  transform- 
ation is  complete,  what  a  delight  it  must  be  to  a 
woman  to  know  that  she  has  a  complexion  to  be 
envied  by  all  of  her  lady  friends  and  praised  by  the 
gentlemen.  It  pays,  after  all,  for  the  inconvenience, 
and  it  is  very  inconvenient  sometimes.  Ladies  who 
use  it  must  stay  in  the  house  for  a  few  weeks,  as  they 


Dashes  Here  and  There. 


701 


present  anything  but  an  attractive  appearance  while 
the  bleacher  is  doing  its  work.  Why,  a  man  came 
in  here  the  other  day  in  a  terrible  rage  and  stormed 
around  like  a  crazy  person. 

"  'What  in  the  name  of  reason,'  he  exclaimed, 
though  perhaps  those  are  not  jyist  the  words  he  used 
— something  stronger,  no  doubt — what  have  you  been 
doing  with  my  wife?  She  looks  like  she  had  a  case 
of  leprosy,  or  small-pox.  Such  a  sight  you  have  made 
of  her!  She  says  you  gave  her  a  sample  bottle  of 
something  to  put  on  her  face  to  improve  her  com- 
plexion, which  she's  used  once,  and  now  she  is  such 
a  horrible-looking  object,  with  the  skin  all  peeled  up 
over  her  face,  that  she  has  to  lock  herself  in  a  room 
alone  for  fear  of  frightening  the  children  into  spasms. 
The  servants  are  told  to  say  ^not  at  home'  to  all  of 
her  friends,  and  the  Old  Harry  is  to  pay  all  around. 
What's  to  be  done?'  And  the  distracted  man  looked 
at  me  quite  beseechingly. 

"'Oh,'  I  said,  'that's  all  right.  Tell  her  to  keep 
on  a  little  longer,  and  at  night  to  apply  the  cream  I 
gave  her  and  follow  directions  closely.'  He  went 
away  somewhat  mollified.  A  week  or  two  later  he 
came  in  with  his  wife,  and  I  actually  did  not  know 
her,  she  was  changed  so.  Her  skin,  that  had  been 
coarse-looking  and  freckled,  was  as  soft  and  white  as 
a  baby's,  and  the  now  delighted  husband,  who  had 
fallen  in  love  with  his  own  wife  again,  was  most  pro- 
fuse in  his  thanks.  The  great  trouble  with  the  women 
who  buy  our  bleach  is  that  they  will  not  follow  the 
directions  close  enough.  They  want  to  complete  the 
change  in  a  day.    They  are  in  such  a  hurry,  and  go  to 


702  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

putting  it  on  too  often  and  too  much  at  a  time,  and 
that  plays  havoc  with  some  of  the  delicate  skins. 
One  young  schoolgirl  came  here  and  bought  a  bottle 
of  the  liquid.  I  gave  her  full  instructions  how  to 
use  it,  and  charged  her  in  particular  not  to  get  in  a 
hurry;  but  in  a  few  days  she  came  in  with  a  heavy 
veil  over  her  face.  ^  Oh,  madame,'  she  said,  ^  what 
shall  I  do  ?  I  am  invited  to  a  party  this  week,  and 
I  have  used  so  much  of  the  bleach  that  it  has  made 
my  face  all  black  instead  of  white.  I  am  such  a 
fright,  I  have  to  wear  a  veil  all  the  time,  and  I  can 
get  no  sympathy  at  home,  as  mamma  only  says,  ^  I 
told  you  so.  If  you  will  be  such  a  fool  I  can't  help 
it.'  What  is  the  matter  ?  Shall  I  always  look  this 
way  ?  Oh,  dear,  I  wish  I  had  never  seen  the  horrid 
stuifr 

"I  felt  sorry  for  the  poor  girl,  but  there  was  nothing 
for  her  to  do  but  to  go  home  and  let  the  bleach  do  its 
work  in  its  own  way  and  time.  If  a  woman  has  the 
patience,  and  will  persevere,  and  will  sacrifice  a  little 
time  from  society  to  try  the  process  of  bleaching  the 
skin,  she  will  come  out  from  her  retirement  as  lovely 
as  a  lily,  or  rather  as  a  blush  rose,  for  the  new  face 
has  more  the  beauty  of  youth  than  other  cosmetics 
impart.  We  sell  more  of  it  to  school  teachers  than 
to  any  other  class,  not  excepting  actresses.  I  don't 
know  what  it  is  in  school  teaching  that  ruins  a  com- 
plexion so  quickly,  but  not  one  woman  teacher  in  a 
hundred  has  a  good  complexion.  They  are  always 
sallow,  and  have  awfully  muddy-looking  skin.  It 
can't  be  the  confinement,  for  shop  girls  have  longer 
hours  than  teachers.    Possibly  it  is  the  chalk  used 


Dashes  Here  and  There. 


703 


in  the  blackboard  practice.  Anyway,  they  soon  lose 
their  freshness,  and  have  to  resort  to  artificial  means 
to  conceal  it.  Not  long  ago  a  friend  of  mine,  who  is 
teaching  school  in  one  of  the  suburbs,  came  very  near 
losing  her  position  through  the  bleach.  She  could 
not  wait  until  the  end  of  the  spring  term  to  use  it,  as 
she  was  going  East  to  spend  her  vacation  and  wanted 
her  new  face  to  take  along.  She  put  the  liquid  on 
pretty  thick,  and,  of  course,  when  it  got  at  its  work 
she  looked  rather  the  worse  for  wear.  Quite  naturally, 
the  scholars  had  their  little  minds  full  of  fear  of  all 
contagious  diseases,  and  so  reported  the  matter  at 
home.  Anxious  parents  called  to  see  her,  and  were 
themselves  alarmed  at  her  strange  appearance.  She 
did  not  like  to  tell  them  the  real  cause  of  the  erup- 
tions, and  her  evasive  replies  only  added  to  the  gen- 
eral suspiciousness.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the 
school  board  she  was  invited  to  attend.  By  that  time 
her  face  had  cleared  up,  and  she  appeared  before  the 
gentlemen,  who,  of  course,  pronounced  her  all  right, 
and  wondered  at  the  stupidity  of  the  parents  who 
wanted  so  handsome  and  talented  a  young  lady  re- 
moved from  her  place.    But  it  was  a  narrow  escape. 

"Women  are  using  more  cosmetics  than  they  did  a 
year  ago,"  concluded  the  madame ;  "the  practice  is 
becoming  more  general,  and  even  the  most  refined 
ladies  ajDply  a  little  of  either  liquid  or  dry  powder  to 
their  faces  before  they  consider  their  toilets  complete. 
Our  largest  trade  outside  of  this  city  is  at  Chicago, 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  and,  well,  say  Milwaukee. 
Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  women  appear  to  need  more 
cosmetics  than  those  of  other  regions,  though  why  is 


704 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


more  than  I  can  explain.  You  would  be  surprised 
if  you  knew  the  extent  of  the  cosmetic  trade.  "We 
fill  orders  every  day  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
even  to  Montana  and  Idaho.  The  country  women 
seem  to  be  wild  on  face  beautifiers. 

AESENIC  EATERS. 

The  board  of  health,  says  the  New  York  Tribune^ 
has  received  several  letters  from  people  who  complain 
about  the  sale  of  arsenic  wafers  to  unwary  young 
women  who  want  to  beautify  their  complexions.  One 
mother  in  Harlem  wrote  that  her  daughters  had  been 
using  the  wafers  without  her  knowledge,  and  she 
feared  that  if  the  wafers  contained  as  much  arsenic 
as  their  makers  claimed,  they  must  be  strongly  im- 
pregnated with  poison.  She  also  raised  the  point  that 
if  the  wafers  contained  no  poison  the  manufacturer 
was  an  impostor.  Dr.  Cyrus  Edson  analyzed  the 
articles  and  found  but  slight  traces  of  the  poison  in 
them.  The  principal  danger  from  the  wafers,  it  is 
said,  is  that  those  who  use  them  think  that  it  is  not 
dangerous  to  eat  arsenic,  and  are  thus  tempted  to  try 
a  cheap  solution  of  the  poison.  Death  is  likely  to 
result  from  the  slightest  overdose. 

Dr.  William  A.  Hammond  talked  freely  the  other 
day  about  arsenic.  He  regarded  arsenic-eaters  in  the 
same  light  as  cocaine-eaters — that  is,  he  had  yet  to 
see  one.  "It  is  not  a  habit  in  this  country,"  said  Dr. 
Hammond,  "though  arsenic  is  often  prescribed.  We 
often  have  to  use  large  quantities  of  bromides  for 
curing  epilepsy  or  other  troubles  of  the  nervous  sys- 
tem, and  one  effect  is  to  produce  pimples,  especially 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  705 


on  the  face.  Arsenic  is  used  conjointly  with  the 
bromides  to  prevent  these  pimples  and  also  to  cure 
them.  But  I  would  no  more  think  of  allowing  women 
to  use  arsenic  at  their  own  sweet  will  than  cocaine 
or  any  other  active  agent.  Arsenic  is  useful  in  de- 
praved states  of  the  system,  such  as  are  produced 
from  malaria,  and  physicians  constantly  prescribe  it 
in  these  cases.  I  have  never  known  or  heard  of  a 
case  in  which  it  was  taken  to  produce  exhilarating 
eifects  such  as  opium  causes,  any  more  than  I  have 
heard  of  cocaine  used  for  such  purposes.  Arsenic  is 
poisonous  in  small  doses,  and  consequently  differs 
from  cocaine.  In  medicine  it  is  generally  used  as 
arsenious  acid.  Two  and  a  half  grains  killed  a 
healthy,  robust  girl  of  19  years,  in  thirty-six  hours. 
Under  circumstances  favorable  to  the  poison,  from 
two  to  three  grains  will  kill  an  adult.  The  doses 
used  in  medicine  vary  from  one-fiftieth  to  one- 
twentieth  of  a  grain.  These  arsenic  wafers  contain 
much  less  than  that,  and  consequently  have  no  effect. 
They,  therefore,  are  a  fraud,  and  the  man  who  makes 
them  ought  to  be  arrested.  The  Styrian  peasants  use 
arsenic — the  men  to  improve  their  wind  so  that  they 
can  climb  mountains  more  easily,  and  the  women  to 
improve  their  complexions.  They  have  been  known 
to  take  six  grains  in  one  day.  They  begin  by  taking 
extremely  small  doses.  Arsenic  has  no  effect  on  a 
horse.  In  one  instance  a  horse  took  550  grains  with- 
out any  result." 

Another  doctor  said  it  was  impossible  to  estimate 
the  number  of  arsenic  eaters  in  this  city,  because  they 
are  a  class  that  do  not  often  come  under  a  physician's 


706  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


observation.  "Yet,"  said  he,  "the  number  is  large, 
though  you  can  not  say  that  it  is  growing.  The  |i 
population  of  this  city  is  increasing,  and  the  fools  I 
seem  to  increase  in  numbers,  whereas  they  are  simply 
maintaining  their  proportion.  That  is  about  the  case 
with  the  arsenic  eaters;  they  are  keeping  up  their  ' 
proportion  of  the  other  idiots.  Some  actors,  a  low 
class  of  women,  and  even  some  members  of  the  best 
society,  eat  arsenic  or  use  it  in  some  form  to  improve 
their  complexions.  It  gives  them  a  certain  pallor 
that  they  consider  desirable.  They  begin  by  taking 
small  doses,  and  gradually  work  up  to  a  large  amount, 
and  then,  when  they  think  it  is  time  to  leave  off,  they 
gradually  lessen  the  dose — or,  rather,  they  try  to,  for 
the  habit,  once  formed,  is  extremely  difficult  to  aban- 
don. Those  who  take  arsenic  say  that  it  has  a  pleas- 
ant effect,  though  not  like  opium,  morphine  or  hash- 
ish, and  the  system's  demands  for  it  are  not  so  im- 
perative as  in  the  case  of  either  of  these  drugs.  There 
was  Dr.  Grant,  the  bigamist,  who  died  the  other  day 
in  prison  because  his  supply  of  morphine  Avas  cut  off. 
I  have  seen  arsenic  eaters  shut  up  in  prison  who  did 
not  complain  as  bitterly  as  the  morphine  or  opium  j 
users  would  have  done  under  the  same  circumstances. " 

The  reporter  visited  a  number  of  East-side  drug 
stores  and  talked  with  the  proprietors  about  their 
experience  with  arsenic  eaters.  One  druggist,  in  a  , 
10  X  15  shop,  said  that  his  arsenic  customers  were  not  ' 
confined  to  one  class  of  society ;  they  embraccid  peo- 
ple in  all  walks  of  life,  though  almost  all  were  women. 
"We  don't  want  to  sell  it,"  said  he,  "and  won't  sell 
it  without  a  prescription,  but  they  will  have  it.  Just 


Dashes  Here  and  There,  707 


now  there  is  a  demand  for  these  wafers,  and  we  have 
to  put  them  on  the  counter.  There  is  not  enough 
arsenic  in  them  to  hurt  anybody,  but  people  ask  for 
them,  and  if  you  don't  have  them  they  say:  "Oh, 
well,  we  can  get  them  at  another  store. "  We  have 
perhaps  twenty  customers  here  every  week  who  are 
habitual  arsenic  eaters.  They  begin  using  it  to  im- 
prove their  complexions,  but  once  acquired,  the  habit 
is  hard  to  break  oif. 

"We  don't  sell  it  without  a  prescription,  and  the 
dodges  that  some  of  these  people  play  make  me 
weary.  There  is  one  fashionable  woman  who  drives 
down  here  once  in  a  while  for  the  stuif,  and  always 
has  some  new  excuse  to  offer  for  asking  for  it.  I 
have  to  ask  her  name  and  the  use  she  intends  to  put 
the  stulf  to,  and  then  record  all  in  my  poison  book. " 

LIFE  CIS"  A  CANAL  BOAT. 

The  rosiest  side  of  human  existence  is  not  gener- 
ally supposed  to  be  found  on  board  a  canal  boat. 
Ever  since  canals  were  a  feature  of  Uncle  Sam's  big 
republic  have  those  who  lived  on  their  borders  been 
caricatured  in  the  papers  and  abused  by  the  press. 
The  popular  belief  has  always  been  that  they  are,  if 
not  the  oifscouring  of  the  earth,  at  least  but  one  grade 
better.  The  value  of  the  Erie  canal  as  a  common 
highway  was  discussed  in  the  papers  recently,  and  a 
reporter  talked  with  some  of  the  people  of  the  canal 
boat  Mary,  and  learned  something  of  their  mode  of 
living.  That  the  lives  of  these  people  are  not  of  the 
pleasantest,  but  that  out  of  canal  boats  come  some 
of  the  best  citizens  and  most  earnest  and  intelligent 
people  of  both  sexes,  was  amply  proven. 


708  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Hundreds  of  canal  boats,  running  not  alone  on  the 
waters  of  the  Erie,  but  north  through  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  so  on  through  various  waters  to  the  beau- 
tiful city  of  Otta^va,  are  tied  up  during  the  winter 
months  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn.  The  children 
in  this  small  and  scattered  city  of  boats  attend  the 
public  schools  of  the  two  cities.  In  some  cases  the 
parents  send  them  to  private  schools,  and  not  seldom 
to  college  afterward,  where  they  are  fitted  to  a  degree 
for  honored  places  among  their  fellows. 

It  was  in  order  to  see  these  people  in  their  floating 
homes  that  the  author  visited  a  number  of  the  boats. 
The  visits  brought  to  him  a  lesson  in  contentment,  in 
helpfulness,  and  in  true  Christian  charity  that  a  dozen 
wordy  sermons  could  not  impart.  In  the  homes  of 
the  richer  canallers,  and  in  the  poorer  boats,  he  found 
the  same  thrift  and  providence  for  old  age.  In  many 
cases  the  boatmen  and  their  families  were  members 
and  regular  attendants  at  some  place  of  worship. 

Almost  every  denomination  was  represented.  There 
were  Presbyterians  and  Methodists,  Unitarians  and 
Universalists,  Episcopalians  and  Congregationalists. 
Of  Baptists  of  the  regular  order  there  were  not  a 
•few.  There  were  even  some  Buddhists  and  a  slight 
sprinkling  of  Spiritualists. 

The  sounds  of  an  organ  evolving  one  of  Moody 
and  Sankey's  song  tunes  floated  up  from  the  cabin  of 
the  first  boat  that  was  boarded.  A  curious  apartment 
was  this  same  cabin.  Lace  curtains  half  hid  the  win- 
dows. The  half-open  door  disclosed  a  scene  such  as 
might  be  seen  in  an  old  Kentucky  homestead.  A 
miss  of  twelve  summers,  or  more,  was  seated  at  the 


Dashes  Hebe  a^d  There, 


709 


organ  in  one  corner  of  tlie  room,  wliicli  served  at  once 
the  purposes  of  parlor,  kitchen,  and  dining-room. 
The  floor  of  the  uniciue  apartment  Avas  covered  with 
a  home-made  carpet,  and  bright-colored  rugs  were 
strewn  about  the  floor.  A  small  bookcase  upon  one 
of  the  walls  was  fllled  with  books  upon  a  variety  of 
useful  subjects.  A  handsome  ash  dining-table  stood 
near  the  case.  Portraits  (of  the  family,  apparently,) 
hung  in  small  frames  upon  the  other  wall,  the  attempts 
at  ornamentation  always  due  to  a  woman's  heart. 
Not  the  smallest  attraction  in  this  picture  was  a 
laughing,  crowing  infant  in  a  crib  of  curious  work- 
manship that  swung  in  the  corner  like  a  hammock. 

A  middle-aged  matron  w^as  industriously  knitting 
on  a  splint-back  rocker,  and  a  younger  woman  sat 
near  the  cradle.  A  man  of  some  fifty  years  had  been 
reading  a  book,  but  he  threw  it  aside  to  listen  to  the 
song  the  3^oung  miss  at  the  organ  began  to  pour 
forth  in  a  girlish  soprano.  The  baby,  too,  evidently 
enjoyed  it,  for  he  clapped  his  hands  and  chuckled, 
while  his  face  twisted  itself  into  a  thousand  dimples, 
intended  for  a  smile.  Not  until  the  last  note  died 
upon  the  organ  did  the  visitor  venture  to  enter  in  on 
the  happy  circle. 

The  spectacled  reader  arose  and  welcomed  the  new 
comer  with  quiet  dignity.  On  learning  his  errand  he 
at  once  looked  interested.  "You  will  find  good  and 
bad  in  every  community,"  he  said,  but  among  the 
canallers  there  is  much  less  of  the  grosser  element 
than  many  seem  to  think.  Many  of  the  boats  are 
comfortably  fitted  up,  and  you  will  find  that  their 
inmates  are  actuated  by  the  same  ambitions  as  are 


710 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


people  on  terra  firina.  It  is  true  that  they  are  dis- 
tinctive,  but  you  will  observe  that  the  children  of 
poor  canallers  have  not  half  the  temptations  set  be- 
fore them  that  children  in  close  tenement-house  dis- 
tricts are  subjected  to.  For  my  part  I  would  much 
rather  live  in  a  healthy  atmosphere  upon  a  canal  boat 
than  cooped  up  in  small  apartments  opening  off  a 
narrow,  ill-smelling  street. 

*'The  education  of  canallers'  children  is  by  no  means 
neglected.  There  are  now  over  four  hundred  children 
attending  the  public  schools  in  New  York  and 
Brooklyn,  whose  parents  reside  on  canal  boats,  and 
they  are  making  good  progress,  too.  I  know  of  sev- 
eral prominent  business  and  professional  men  in  New 
York  and  Brooklyn  who  to-day  are  valued  highly  in 
their  respective  circles  of  usefulness,  and  the  early 
life  of  each  was  spent  on  canal  boats.  I  could  name 
dozens  of  men — and  women,  too, — who  are  now  en- 
joying wealth  and  the  advantages  of  the  polite  society 
of  the  day  who  were  born  and  reared  on  canal  boats. 
Their  parents  were  poor,  and  to  the  fact  that  a  canal 
boat  sheltered  them  during  their  early  years,  thus 
keeping  them  away  from  the  element  they  would 
surely  come  in  contact  with  in  the  poorer  sections  of 
a  large  city,  do  they  largely  owe  their  positions 
in  life. 

*'The  life  is  a  remarkably  healthful  one.  There  is 
no  pleasanter  trip  to  my  mind  than  the  route  up  the 
Hudson,  with  its  beautiful  and  ever  varied  banks, 
through  the  waters  of  Lake  Champlain — that  noble 
sheet  of  water  at  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  Em- 
pire state.    Sometimes,  when  the  weather  is  rough, 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  711 


some  quiet  inlet  shelters  tlie  fleet,  and  then  there  are 
parties  and  afternoon  teas  and  musicales,  and  what 
notj  after  the  manner  of  the  most  approved  circles 
of  metropolitan  social  life.  We  have  also  exhibi- 
tions, sometimes,  consisting  of  instrumental  and 
vocal  music,  interspersed  with  recitations  not  lacking 
in  merit,  and  showing  certainly  that  school  training 
is  not  lost  upon  canal  children. 

"It  generally  takes  twelve  days  to  go  to  the  city  of 
Ottawa,  and  it  takes  six  weeks  to  make  the  round 
trip.  The  distance  is  nearly  1,700  miles.  We  pass 
from  Lake  Champlain  through  the  Chambly  canal 
into  the  Eichelieu  river,  up  which  we  go  to  Sorel, 
and  then  into  the  St  Lawrence  river,  with  its  beauti- 
ful scenery,  to  Montreal,  forty -five  miles  away.  After 
discharging  a  portion  of  our  cargo  we  resume  the 
the  journey  through  the  Lachine  canal  to  another 
branch  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  St.  Ann's  and  then  on 
to  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains.  The  Carrillon 
canal,  a  short  route  to  Greenville,  is  traversed,  and 
then,  passing  through  various  canal  locks,  we  come 
out  on  the  Ottawa  river,  and  finally  to  the  pleasant 
little  city  of  Ottawa  itself. 

^'  It  is  a  pleasure  trip  to  be  remembered,  for  one 
gets  the  fresh  air  and  unrivaled  scenery,  not  to  speak 
of  the  boating  excursions  along  the  lake  shores,  and 
the  fishing  and  hunting  expeditions  that  circumstan- 
ces— such  as  bad  weather — lead  us  to  make  to  pass 
the  time  away.  Do  you  wonder,  then,  that  canal 
children  are  healthy,  or  that  they  grow  up  generally 
with  healthy  ideas  and  a  desire  to  make  something 
of  themselves  in  the  world?" 


712 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


The  visitor  acknowledged  that  he  did  not,  and  re- 
flected that  many  professional  gentleman  he  had 
interviewed  had  not  the  power  of  expressing  them- 
selves in  such  good  English  as  this  humble  owner  of 
a  common  canal  boat.  Happening  to  catch  sight  of 
the  title  of  the  book  lying  in  the  speaker's  lap  he 
saw  it  was  a  work  on  mechanics,  which  this  man,  now 
past  the  meridian,  was  delving  into. 

During  the  conversation  the  baby  had  been  engaged 
in  a  frantic  endeavor  to  put  one  of  its  toes  in  its 
mouth,  a  feat  it  had  nearly  accomplished  once  or 
twice,  but  a  movement  of  its  cradle  at  the  supreme 
moment  caused  defeat.  The  infant  treated  each  fail- 
ure as  a  joke,  and  laughed  and  crowed  in  great  glee 
until  its  funny  little  face  looked  like  a  map  of  Africa, 
with  wrinkles  and  twists  enough  to  resemble  all  the 
rivers  and  mountains  in  a  dozen  continents. 

Many  scenes  the  writer  glanced  in  upon  after  leav- 
ing this  truly  happy  family,  and  it  was  growing  dark 
when  he  boarded  the  last  boat.  The  sound  of  a  sub- 
dued voice  caused  him  to  pause  at  the  cabin-door. 
The  family  were  at  evening  prayer.  The  remains  of 
the  supper  were  spread  upon  the  little  table.  An 
old  lady  with  silvery-white  hair  and  a  deep  frilled 
cap  was  pouring  put  her  soul  in  praise  to  the  Giver 
of  all  good  and  perfect  gifts.  Members  of  the  family 
knelt  in  other  parts  of  the  little  cabin.  What  a 
simple  petition  it  was!  The  humble  spirit  of  the 
requests  and  the  utter  dependence  of  the  suppliant 
and  her  infinite  faith  in  her  heavenly  Father  were 
fittingly  illustrated.  Every  one  of  the  small  group 
was  remembered,  and  even  matters  of  national  im- 


Dashes  Here  and  There. 


713 


portance,  the  welfare  of  the  president,  and  political, 
social,  and  educational  interests  were  all  borne  to  the 
throne  of  grace. 

The  writer  did  not  enter,  but  made  his  way  from 
the  scenes  of  his  day's  labors  with  his  ideas  of  canal 
people  materially  changed. 

MELTI]N'G  DOWIS"  TEADE  DOLLAES. 

March  \  1887,  there  were  nearly  seven  million 
trade  dollars  stored  away  in  vaults  and  safe  places 
all  over  the  country  by  their  luckless  holders,  Avorth 
only  their  bullion  value  in  silver,  and  for  the  ordinary 
uses  of  money  without  either  credit  or  circulation. 
Yet  with  the  new  law  which  requires  them  to  be  re- 
deemed and  remelted,  it  looks  as  if  the  coin  collectors 
would  soon  be  offering  premiums  for  the  big  dis- 
credited pieces,  so  quickly  are  they  disappearing  into 
the  crucibles  of  the  government  assay  offices.  Of 
course  more  than  seven  million  trade  dollars  in  all 
were  coined — about  five  times  that  many,  according 
to  the  estimates  of  the  treasury  department.  But 
the  bulk  of  the  pieces  got  across  to  China  and  the 
East  Indies  and  never  came  back.  The  Chinese  cut 
up  a  good  many  for  small  coins,  and  what  the  other 
Asiatic  traders  had  could  not  be  reimported  after  the 
sudden  stoppage  of  the  circulation  here. 

At  all  events,  the  treasury  officials  say  that  there 
were  not  more  than  seven  million  in  this  country  when 
the  exchanges  and  banks  and  railroads  declared  war 
on  them  in  the  spring  of  1883.  About  three  million 
of  these  hnve  already  been  redeemed  at  the  New  York 
sub-treasury  alone.    Nearly  one  hundred  thousand 


714  WONDEBS  OF  A  GREAT  CiTY. 


more  colne  in  daily  here — to  say  nothing  of  those  re- 
ceived at  the  other  sub-treasuries,  and  at  a  moderate 
estimate  the  Avhole  stock,  hoarded  up  so  long,  will 
be  exhausted  before  summer  time. 

The  rush  at  the  New  York  sub-treasury  is  already 
slackening  a  little.  The  first  day  the  law  went  into 
effect,  early  in  March,  and  for  a  good  many  days 
after,  a  limit  had  to  be  put  on  the  number  of  silver 
pieces  to  be  received.  The  clerks  could  not  test  and 
count  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  each  day,  and 
even  then  they  had  to  stand  knee-deep  in  the  silver 
sometimes,  pushing  the  big  dollars  oS  the  receiving- 
counters  as  fast  as  they  could  be  weighed.  Some 
days,  to  accommodate  people  Avho  had  come  long  dis- 
tances with  heavy  loads  of  silver,  more  than  one  liun- 
dred  thousand  were  taken  in.    For  the  last  fortnio-ht 

o 

of  April  the  daily  return  has  sometimes  fallen  below 
one  hundred  thousand.  But  the  stream  of  tliese 
light-weight  dollars,  some  battered  and  dirty,  some 
greasy  and  stained,  some  as  brand-new-looking  as  the 
day  they  were  minted,  will  not  run  much  thinner, 
probably,  like  other  streams,  before  it  goes  quite  dry. 

At  first  the  coins  were  merely  shoveled  into  bags 
and  stored  away  in  the  sub-treasury  vaults.  But  the 
mass  of  silver  soon  grew  unwieldy.  The  vaults  were 
clioked,  and  the  drawers  and  cases  of  the  receiving 
room  were  jammed  each  day  to  bursting.  So,  near 
the  middle  of  March,  a  first  installment  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  was  sent  across  the  way  to  the  assay 
office  to  be  melted.  And  almost  every  day  since  one 
hundred  bags,  each  with  one  thousand  pieces  in  it, 
have  been  turned  into  the  government  crucibles. 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  715 


Here  the  metal  melts  down  and  purifies  itself  of  its 
baser  alloys  in  the  old  dollar  form.  And  when  it  is 
at  the  bubbling  point  it  is  run  into  molds  and  solidifies 
again  in  brick-shaped  silver  bars  of  standard  fineness. 
Each  one  thousand  dollars  make  a  bar  twelve  hun- 
dred ounces  in  weight.  The  bars  themselves  are 
afterward  tested  and  stamped  and  then  stored  away 
in  boxes  in  the  big  safety  vaults.  Many  of  them  are 
sold  to  manufacturing  jewelers  at  face  value;  others 
are  kept  as  a  sort  of  coin  reserve,  and  still  others  are 
sent  away  to  the  mints  to  be  turned  back  into  legal 
tender  silver  dollars  or  into  smaller  fractional  cur- 
rency. 

The  New  York  assay  ofiice  could  melt  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars  every  day,  if  necessar}^. 
As  it  is,  there  is  so  much  other  work  constantly  on 
hand  that  scarcely  five  hundred  thousand  of  the  dis- 
used pieces  are  turned  into  bars  a  week.  Three  or 
four  men  have  been  detailed  specially  to  work  on  the 
trade  dollars.  They  first  go  over  tliem  again  care- 
fully, getting  an  even  thousand  in  each  box,  and  then 
turn  the  boxes  out  into  the  small  crucibles.  The  lit- 
tle furnaces  in  the  Wall  street  section  of  the  assay 
office  are  used,  and  there  is  little  to  make  one  think 
of  a  big,  glaring,  dirty  foundry,  with  its  dusty  smoke 
and  pungent  gases,  in  the  light,  clean,  well-ventilated 
room  where  the  boxes  of  coins — dull  for  the  most 
part  now — are  piled  neatly  one  on  another,  and  the 
furnace,  just  a  foot  or  two  ofP,  looks  no  more  for. 
midable  with  its  covers  on  than  an  everyday  cooking 
range.  The  molders  lift  the  caps  of  the  crucibles  off 
now  and  then,  and  one  can  see  the  Avhlte  metal  bub- 


716  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


bling  and  simmering  within.  Some  of  fche  topmost 
dollars  are  only  half  melted,  the  big,  square-winged 
eagle  on  the  reverse,  or  the  image  of  commerce  on  the 
obverse,  showing  in  faint,  wavering  lines.  The  small 
crucibles-full  melt  quickly,  and  as  each  reaches  the 
proper  fluid  state  it  is  turned  over  into  the  brick- 
shaped  molds.  Here  the  metal  cools  to  a  solid  almost 
instantly,  and  is  shaken  out  in  bars  and  blocks  of 
various  sizes.  The  trade  dollars,  of  course,  do  not 
make  the  clear,  whitish  bars  that  one  sees  lying  about 
melted  down  from  the  pure  silver  ore.  Some  of  the 
bricks  are  dirt}^,  almost  leaden,  in  color  at  first; 
others  look  brighter  and  fresher.  There  is  little 
difference,  in  fact,  however.  All  the  bars  are  up  to 
the  average  legal  fineness,  899^  to  900  parts  in  1,000. 

"We  have  received  up  to  April  10,"  saidMr.  Mason, 
the  director  of  the  assay  office,  "about  two  million 
trade  dollars.  Over  1,800,000  have  already  been 
melted.  We  tiy  to  have  not  more  than  one  hundred 
thousand  on  hand  at  any  one  time.  The  treasury 
people  keep  several  hundred  thousand  ahead  of  us. 
The  rush  seems  to  be  over  now,  and  as  there  is  no 
demand  for  the  silver  bullion — the  mints  and  the 
treasury  at  Washington  being  overstocked  with  it 
already — we  need  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  melt  the  trade 
dollars.  It  is  only  a  matter  of  storage  at  present. 
A  big  bagful  of  coins  is  much  more  unwieldy  and 
cumbersome  than  half  a  dozen  metal  bars. 

"I  do  not  think  that  the  country  will  have  co  re- 
deem the  -whole  trade-dollar  coinage  after  all.  Four- 
fifths  of  it  got  across  to  China,  and  much  of  it  was 
mutilated  there  even  after  it  began  to  circulate  a  lit- 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  717 


tie  here.  The  trade  dollars  were  never  meant  to  be 
used  as  currency  here.  It  was  through  a  slip  at  the 
San  Francisco  mint,  I  think,  that  they  first  got  out. 
The  Chinese  have  been  using  them  all  along,  though 
they  were  tabooed  here.  Not  more  than  three  hun- 
dred thousand  have  been  returned  so  far  for  redemp- 
tion. I  don't  think  that  we  shall  be  troubled  with 
many  millions  from  that  quarter.  It  would  be  a 
good  speculation,  however,  if  one  could  pick  up  a  lot 
of  trade  dollars  over  there  for  their  bullion  value, 
and  have  them  redeemed  here  at  their  face  value. 
The  difference  on  each  piece  would  be  about  24  cents. 

"The  people  who  bought  the  trade  dollar  here  four 
years  ago  for  80  and  85  cents  have  lost  all  their  profit 
by  the  delay  of  Congress  in  passing  the  bill  to  re- 
deem the  coinage.  Few  speculators,  however,  have 
turned  in  many  dollars  here.  The  great  bulk  came, 
I  think,  from  merchants  and  banking  concerns,  and 
were  taken  originally  without  a  discount.  Many 
tradesmen  saw  a  chance  to  make  customers  by  offer- 
ing to  take  the  scant  coin  at  full  value  for  merchan- 
dise." 

PIGEON-FLYING. 

A  carrier  pigeon  was  found  dead  at  Chester,  Va., 
the  first  week  in  April,  1887.  The  finder  did  not 
know  a  carrier  from  any  other  kind  of  pigeon,  but 
as  he  was  idly  examining  the  bird  he  noticed  a  little 
tag  attached  to  the  feathers.  On  this  was  w^ritten 
these  figures:  0563,  and  the  words,  "If  caught  or 
shot,  report  this  number  to  Starr,  New  York."  It 
was  a  good  deal  of  mystery  still  to  the  finder,  but 


718 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


after  speaking  to  a  few  friends  about  it  he  found  one 
who  knew  that  the  bird  was  a  carrier  and  had  been 
sent  out  on  a  race.  A  message  was  accordingly  sent  to 
"Starr,  New  York,"  as  requested  on  the  tag.  "Starr, 
New  York,"  is  a  little  woman  who  devotes  herself  to 
the  interest  of  pigeon-flying,  and  keejDS  the  run  of 
about  all  the  birds  in  this  country.  To  find  her  one 
has  to  climb  four  dark  flights  to  the  top  of  a  rickety 
old  building  at  the  corner  of  Cortlandt  and  Washing- 
ton streets.  As  she  is  an  enthusiast  upon  the  subject, 
visitors  who  want  to  learn  anything  about  j)igeons 
find  a  ready  welcome  and  no  little  information.  All 
pigeon-flyers,  and  their  number  is  increasing  every 
year,  send  her  accounts  of  their  birds,  and,  in  the 
event  of  a  race,  the  birds  themselves  are  sometimes 
sent  also  to  be  registered.  But  as  a  rule  she  is  noti- 
fied as  soon  as  a  bird  is  hatched,  and  she  makes  such 
entries  in  her  ponderous  record-books  as  fix  that  bird's 
identity  until  he  dies  of  old  age,  or  is  shot  by  a  care- 
less hunter.  When  she  received  word  that  0563  had 
been  picked  up  dead,  she  referred  to  her  books  and 
found  that  one  of  the  most  remarkable  birds  in  the 
land  had  been  lost.  To  be  sure,  all  the  pigeon-flyers 
had  given  this  bird  up  months  ago,  for  it  had  not  been 
heard  of  since  last  October,  but  no  one  knew  what 
became  of  it. 

The  bird  was  owned  by  William  Bennett,  of  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  one  of  the  centers  of  pigeon-flying  interest. 
The  bird  has  not  been  named.  It  was  a  blue  male, 
and  was  hatched  in  the  spring  of  1886.  It  had  been 
in  three  races,  in  one  of  Avhicli  it  was  among  the  six 
that  made  the  best  record  to  Newark,  and  the  feat 


Dashes  Here  and  There. 


719 


was  second  only  to  the  best  young  fly-bird  in  America. 
The  best  record  was  made  by  Philadelphia  pigeons  in 
1883.  In  the  case  of  0563  the  start  was  made  at 
Liberty,  Va.,  from  which  place  to  Newark  it  is  368 
miles,  air-line.  The  birds  were  liberated  at  25  min- 
utes past  6  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Oct.  1,  1886, 
annd  the  first  bird  to  report  at  its  loft  in  Newark 
arrived  at  14  minutes  past  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day.  A  few  minutes  later  0563  came  in, 
and  his  average  speed  for  the  journey  was  1,099  yards 
a  minute.  About  a  week  later,  this  bird,  with  three 
others,  was  taken  to  Morgantow^n,  N.  C,  527  miles 
from  home.  None  of  them  were  heard  from  until 
Mrs.  Starr  received  the  report  of  the  death  of  0563. 

Mrs.  Starr  thinks  that  pigeon-flying  has  come  to  be 
a  standard  gentleman's  sport  in  America.  At  present 
the  amusement  is  free  from  all  objectionable  features, 
and  as  each  year  passes  improvements  are  made  in 
keeping  the  records  of  the  birds.  New  books  have 
been  opened  this  spring  which  in  a  few  years  will 
be  of  great  value  to  the  lovers  of  the  sport,  for  they 
will  contain  the  minutest  details  of  all  birds  that  live 
long  enough  to  make  a  record  in  a  race.  But  the  most 
important  change  this  season  is  in  the  device  for 
marking  the  birds.  It  was  formerly  done  by  marking 
the  feathers  and  attaching  a  tag,  but  henceforth  a 
light,  seamless  band  of  silver-plated  nickel  will  be 
put  around  the  bird's  leg,  every  bird  sent  out  from 
Mrs.  Starr's  headquarters  having  a  different  number 
inscribed  on  it.  The  band  is  slipped  over  a  pigeon's 
foot  as  soon  as  it  is  hatched,  and  so  rapidly  do  the 
birds  grow  that  in  eight  days  the  band  could  neither 


720  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


be  removed  or  a  smaller  one  put  on.  Yet  it  is  never 
too  small  for  the  leg,  and  in  no  way  does  it  act  to  the 
discomfort  of  the  flyer.  Speaking  of  the  general 
subject  of  pigeon-flying,  Mrs.  Starr  said : 

"I  think  you  would  be  surprised  if  you  knew  how 
many  people  keep  birds  for  the  actual  work  of  car- 
rying messages.  A  great  many  men  in  all  of  the 
large  cities  take  birds  with  them  to  their  offices,  and 
at  some  period  of  the  day,  when  they  have  occasion 
to  send  word  home,  they  attach  a  message  to  the 
pigeon  and  release  it.  But  I  suppose  that  the  prin- 
cipal incentive  to  the  cultivation  of  message  birds  is 
for  racing.  Although  young  birds,  those  hatched 
within  the  year,  often  make  good  records,  I  am  in- 
clined to  think  that  a  pigeon  does  not  become  fully 
mature  until  it  is  10  years  old.  They  then  seem  to 
have  the  maximum  of  sense  and  speed.  In  this  coun- 
try we  have  a  great  deal  of  trouble  with  hunters. 
If  they  would  only  let  the  birds  alone,  we  would  lose 
very  few  from  any  other  cause.  Pigeons  are  on  rec- 
ord that  won  races  at  the  age  of  20.  In  Belgium  a 
great  deal  of  attention  is  paid  to  flying,  and  the  birds 
are  highly  cultivated  and  live  to  a  considerable  age." 

"Is  special  training  required  to  make  good  race 
birds?" 

"No;  but  previous  to  each  racing  season  the  birds 
are  trained  by  making  them  practice  short-distance 
flies.  They  are  taken  ten  miles  or  so  from  home  and 
liberated.  This  kind  of  training  is  just  beginning  in 
preparation  for  the  races  of  the  coming  season,  of 
which  there  will  be  many  and  good  ones. " 


Dashes  Here  and  There, 


721 


FANCY  CLOCKS. 

The  old  Yankee  clock-tinker  has  drifted  to  New 
York,  and  is  making  fewer  acquaintances  but  more 
money  than  of  yore.  One  of  the  clock  experts  of 
the  city,  D.  W.  Bradley  by  name,  left  his  route  in  the 
coimtry,  came  to  the  metropolis,  and  made  $2,000  a 
year  winding  and  repairing  the  ten  tow^er-clocks  then 
in  this  city.  An  era  of  competition  in  clock-winding, 
as  in  everything  else,  struck  New  York,  and  now  a 
dozen  men  are  at  it,  and  now  the  old  winders,  like 
Mr.  Bradley,  have  gone  into  the  service  of  the  exten- 
sive clockmakers  at  handsome  salaries.  Tw^o  winders 
have  almost  a  monopoly  in  the  care  of  the  many 
tow^er-clocks,  w^hich  they  wind  once  a  w^eek,  and  they 
earn  their  money,  for  it  is  hard  labor  to  raise  a  twelve- 
hundred-pound  weight  with  a  thousand  or  more  turns 
of  a  key. 

TifEany  &  Co.  employ  a  clockmaker  to  devise 
curious  timepieces,  and  he  has  under  him  five  men 
who  are  busy  all  the  time  winding  clocks  in  private 
houses,  which  they  visit  once  a  week.  Some  of  the 
Fifth  Avenue  mansions  have  from  twenty  to  thirty 
clocks,  from  the  $1  clock  in  the  servants'  room  to  the 
$3,000  timepiece  in  the  grand  hall.  Ten  dollars  or 
more  a  month  is  paid  for  this  service,  and  the  winder, 
who  must  be  a  clock-tinker  as  well,  and  keep  the 
timepieces  in  order,  has  a  certain  day  for  visiting 
each  house.  To  do  his  w^ork  without  intruding  on 
privacy  requires  tact.  Mr.  Bradley  Martin,  the 
millionaire  lawyer  of  New  York  city,  has  the  finest 
collection  of  clocks  in  the  metropolis,  although  it 


722 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


does  not  equal  the  famous  assortment  owned  by 
Editor  George  W.  Childs,  of  the  Philadelphia  Ledger. 
There  are  so  many  clock-fanciers  in  the  country  that 
one  New  York  firm  has  special  clockmakers  turning 
out  unique  timepieces  that  average  $1,000  apiece  in 
value.  The  latest  wrinkle  is  a  clock  with  no  figures 
on  the  dial,  each  hour  being  indicated  by  a  grotesque 
face  of  distinctive  type.  It  is  somewhat  of  a  novelty 
on  asking  the  owner  of  such  a  clock  the  time  of  day 
to  be  told:  "It  is  half-past  the  Indian"  (half-past  12 
o'clock),  or  "A  quarter  past  the  negro,"  6  o'clock 
being  indicated  by  the  face  of  a  laughing  Ethiopian. 
A  clock  of  which  there  is  no  counterpart  has  just 
been  finished  for  an  eccentric  New  Yorker,  whose 
hobby  is  correct  time.  He  was  famous  for  his  punc- 
tuality in  business ;  in  fact,  it  proved  the  foundation 
of  his  wealth,  and  he  has  had  Tiffany's  clockmaker 
turn  him  out  a  timepiece  worth  a  small  fortune.  It 
is  a  very  plain  hall  clock,  its  distinctive  feature  being- 
four  pendulums.  These  equalize  the  running  of  the 
clock-works  so  that  it  keeps  correct  time.  After  Ncav 
York,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  buy  the  most 
expensive  clocks.  The  professional  winders  have  to 
make  weekly  trips  to  surrounding  towns  to  wind 
clocks  in  the  houses  of  rich  patrons. 

A  large  amount  of  capital  is  invested  in  electric- 
clock  corporations  in  the  metropolis.  There  have 
been  half  a  dozen  or  more  styles  of  electric  clocks 
since  their  manufacture  was  begun  about  1885,  one 
of  the  latest  being  a  clock  of  obliging  pattern  which 
winds  itself  every  twelve  hours  by  an  electric  motor. 


J)ashes  Heme  and  There.  723 


It  comes  as  near  perpetual  motion,  as  machinery  after 
a  fruitless  struggle  of  many  years,  has  been  able 
to  get. 

The  six  big  clock  factories  of  the  United  States,  all 
of  which  are  in  the  same  section  of  Connecticut,  ship 
immense  quantities  of  clocks  fi'om  this  city  to  all 
lands.  The  Chinese  and  Japanese  nations  took  to 
American  clocks  with  great  eagerness  after  the  Cen- 
tennial, and  the  manufacturers  had  to  hire  natives  to 
paint  the  dials  with  Chinese  or  Japanese  characters. 
The  trade  suddenly  fell  off,  and  an  investigation  re- 
vealed as  the  cause  the  fact  that  the  ingenious  Chinese 
had  begun  to  counterfeit  the  clocks,  and  were  turning 
their  product  out  at  prices  that  the  American  makers 
couldn't  touch. 

BEAUTIFUL  WORK  IN  IVOEY. 

The  artistic  use  of  ivory  is  becoming  so  general 
that  nearly  every  well  arranged  room  has  one  or  more 
pieces  of  work  carved  entirely  out  of  or  inlaid  with 
this  beautiful  substance.  Appreciation  of  the  effects 
which  artistic  furnishers  make  out  of  ivory  carvings 
has  received  a  sincere  impulse  and  an  aesthetic  cultiv- 
ation recently  by  expositions,  not  only  in  our  Ameri- 
can museums,  but  in  the  bric-a-brac  establishments 
where  good  imitations  of  classical  carvings  are  placed 
on  exhibition.  Formerly,  miniature  sculptures,  of 
fine  execution  and  beautiful  design,  were  to  be  seen 
in  all  the  principal  museums  of  Europe  and  America, 
but  the  price  at  which  they  were  valued  made  it  im- 
possible for  ivory  carvings  to  be  used  generally  as 
household  decorations.    With  improved  methods  of 


724 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


carving,  came  a  more  general  demand  for  small  ivory 
figures  which  could  be  used  as  ornaments,  and  as  a 
result  the  subjects  became  more  varied  and  less  con- 
ventional. The  carvings  were  no  longer  confined  to 
attempts  to  reproduce  the  classical  works  of  the 
ancients,  but  represented  every  phase  of  the  present 
life.  We  now  have  beautiful  toilet  articles  with 
carvings  of  flowers  and  arabesques;  caskets  of  ivory 
worthy  to  inclose  gems ;  little  statues  of  genre  de- 
signs ;  birds,  and  greyhounds,  and  miniature  figures 
of  humanity.  Striking  groups  and  scenes  from  life 
are  carved  out  of  the  Avhite  substance,  and  the  whole 
inlaid  with  differently  colored  ivory,  which  gives 
the  picture  a  realistic  and  beautiful  appearance. 

The  more  delicate  carvings  have  to  be  executed  by 
a  trained  hand  and  an  artistic  eye.  Many  women  are 
employed  in  this  work,  especially  in  the  ivory  manu- 
factories of  Europe,  where  they  are  paid  good  wages 
for  their  labor.  The  rougher  work,  such  as  making 
billiard  balls,  rings  for  harness,  and  ivory  handles,  is 
done  entirely  by  machinery,  but  since  the  demand  for 
fine  household  ornaments  has  grown  so  steadily,  a 
large  number  of  gifted  women  have  been  given  em- 
ployment in  the  manufactories  to  do  the  fine  polish- 
ing and  designing.  The  ivory  used  is  taken  not  only 
from  Africa  and  Asia,  and  the  fossil  mammoth  of  Si- 
beria, but  also  from  the  horns  of  the  hippopotamus, 
the  tusks  of  the  walrus,  and  the  sword  of  the  narwhal. 
The  grain  of  the  several  kinds  differs  very  materially, 
and  in  proportion  to  the  delicateness  of  the  lines  is 
the  price  paid  for  it.  The  elephant  tusk  represents 
the  finest  specimens  of  ivory.    When  the  tusks  are 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  725 


brought}  into  the  workshop  they  are  cut  in  shapes 
necessary  for  carving  by  machinery.  The  objects 
are  designed  beforehand,  and  a  suitable  piece  is  cut 
out  from  the  sheet  at  one  turn  of  the  wheel.  These 
pieces  are  then  taken  by  the  artists,  who  design  and 
polish  them  until  fashioned  ready  for  the  store.  The 
carvers  sit  at  long  desks  facing  windows  of  light,  and 
they  use  salt  and  water  beneath  the  touch  of  their 
fine  tools.  The  polishing  is  accomplished  upon 
wheels  or  "bufEs"  covered  with  Canton  flannel,  and 
there  are  vats  of  colored  liquid  for  staining  tints. 
When  the  carving  is  finally  finished  it  represents  ex- 
quisite work. 

AN  ATTRACTIVE  PIECE. 

I  puzzle  myself  a  good  deal  about  the  want  of  sense 
displayed  by  liquor  dealers.  I  have  never  seen  any 
inducement  required  to  make  men  drink.  A  pine 
shed  and  a  barrel  of  whisky  make  a  haven  of  rest  to 
all  kinds  and  conditions  of  men.  They  sneak  into 
drug  shops  and.  get  the  prescription,  "Aqua  pura, 
simple  syrup  and  tincture  juniper"  put  up  a  dozen 
times  a  day.  They  go  to  the  grocers  and  buy  a  pound 
of  prepared  flour,  saunter  round  behind  the  boxes  of 
codfish,  and  come  back  with  a  piece  of  cheese  and 
the  smell  of  whisky  strong  enough  to  knock  you 
down.  They  tackle  the  Broadway  fruit  store  (fruit 
in  front  and  rum  in  the  rear)  several  times  in  twenty- 
four  hours.  Any  place  where  a  strong  drink  can  be 
found  will  be  frequented  by  thirsty  men.  Knowing 
all  this,  why  on  earth  do  they  gild,  veneer,  decorate, 
and  generally  gingerbread  the  gin  mills.    But  they 


726  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


keep  on  doing  it,  and  one  of  the  new  places  is  a  down- 
town wonder.  The  windows  at  the  rear  end  are 
backed  by  a  handsome  landscape,  painted  and  hung 
outside.  A  platform  holds  luxurious  ferns  and  plants, 
so  that  the  place  opens  apparently  on  a  conservatory 
or  garden.  In  the  center  is  a  bar  forty  or  fifty  feet 
long,  with  barkeepers  all  around  inside  it,  busy  as 
bees  from  morning  till  night.  Up  near  the  door, 
suitably  sequestered  within  artistic  draperies,  lighted 
by  gas  from  above,  and  inclosed  in  a  green-painted 
frame,  is  the  moldering  door  of  some  manorial  out- 
house. The  door  is  the  whole  surface  between  the 
sides  of  the  frame,  and  is  the  same  dark  green.  Big, 
rusty,  scroll-w^orked  hinges  hang  it.  Old  nails  are 
driven  in  here  and  there.  In  the  center  are  suspended 
guns  and  powder  horns,  dead  game,  pouches,  flasks, 
and  an  old  felt  hat  on  top.  If  the  proprietor  would 
fit  up  a  niche  next  to  it,  exactly  like  that  painted 
door,  and  hang  up  genuine  articles,  it  would  be  a 
game  to  win  and  lose  drinks  on  to  guess  which  was 
the  picture  and  which  the  real  collection.  The  fidelity 
to  nature,  the  wonderful  relief  exhibited  in  the  paint- 
ing called  "After  the  Hunt,"  is  something  to  study 
and  marvel  at.  People  stand  and  gaze,  and  almost 
every  one  refuses  to  accept  the  thing  in  its  entirety. 

"If  the  guns  and  game  are  painted,  that's  a  real 
nail  driven  up  there,"  or  "that  broken  piece  of  rusty 
hinge,  hanging  half  oif  at  the  bottom,  is  fastened  on, 
for  you  can  see  behind  it. "  It  is  a  wonderful  picture, 
and  crowds  hang  around  it  till  the  materialization  of 
a  cocktail  on  the  end  of  the  bar  nearest  it  leads  them 
away.    Some  artist  with  the  eyes  of  a  hawk  or  cam- 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  727 


brie  needles  has  copied  a  $10  bill  so  perfectly  on  a 
piece  of  canvas,  that  it's  necessary  to  letter  it,  "This 
is  a  painting. " 

Scattered  about  the  halls  are  a  hundred  clever  pic- 
tures. One  engraving  is  particularly  interesting,  as 
a  picture  that  tells  a  story.  It  represents  a  country 
road  in  the  foreground,  and  wide,  spreading  fields 
beyond.  Across  these  fields  fly  a  pack  of  hounds, 
followed  by  a  large  hunting  party,  mounted  on  gallant 
steeds.  Along  the  country  road  comes  a  two-wheel 
market  cart,  driven  by  an  old,  weather-beaten  woman. 
The  spavined,  wind-galled,  used-up  beast  in  the 
plebeian  harness  has  in  his  day  being  a  hunter  with 
the  best  of  them.  As  the  pack,  in  full  cry,  bursts  on 
his  view  a  recollection  of  the  past  comes  o'er  him. 
Forgetting  his  infirmities,  rising  for  a  moment  supe- 
rior to  misfortune  and  the  market  cart,  he  launches 
forth  for  a  brief  instant  with  all  the  fire  of  his  youth. 
The  horror  of  the  old  woman,  the  touching  combina- 
tion of  physical  wretchedness  with  a  survival  of  sport, 
makes  the  engraving  and  its  title,  "Memory,"  a  plea- 
sure and  a  pain.  I  felt  in  standing  before  it  as  I 
have  felt  in  looking  on  at  some  festivity  and  watch- 
ing two  generations.  The  fair,  young  girl,  whirling 
in  the  embracing  clasp  of  ardent  youth,  and  the 
poor  chaperone,  faded,  rouged,  wrinkled,  and  old  out- 
side, and  yet,  God  help  her  !  fitted  up  inside  with  as 
modern  furniture  as  any  miss  in  the  party.  It's  a 
mercy  to  women,  if  not  to  men,  to  have  the  dry  rot 
start  from  the  inside.  I  always  pity  the  fruit  that 
has  a  spot  of  decay  striking  in  on  a  sound  core. 


728 


Wonders  of  a  Great  Gity, 


TOYS  IjS"  tea  stores. 

Tlie  latest  thing  in  mechanical  toys  can  be  seen  in 
one  or  two  stores  on  Broadway.  Placed  in  the  show 
windo^vs,  the  toy  attracts  great  crowds.  It  is  of 
German  origin,  and  it  first  made  its  appearance  here 
before  the  holidays.  It  represents  an  old  man  in 
dressing-gown  and  nightcap  endeavoring  to  annihilate 
a  rat  with  something:  that  looks  like  a  tennis  bat. 
What  tickles  the  risibilities  of  tlie  admiring  crowd 
outside  the  window  is  the  expression  of  abject  dis- 
appointment on  the  old  man's  face  as  he  strikes  where 
tte  rat  ought  to  be.  The  toy,  when  wound  up,  will 
attract  a  crowd  and  keep  pickpockets  busy  for  about 
two  hours. 

Curiosity  impelled  the  writer  to  seek  some  infor- 
mation about  the  origin  and  price  of  this  man  and 
rat  combination.  He  did  not  intend  to  purchase. 
Being  a  married  man  he  gets  "rats"  at  home  at  first 
cost.  A  young  man — further  description  of  him  is 
unnecessary,  he  was  a  Broadway  clerk — smiled  and 
]uilled  out  a  pad  as  though  he  was  about  to  take  an 
order.  When  informed  that  curiosity  was  the  object 
of  his  visit,  his  suavity  did  not  desert  him — he  was 
still  a  Broadway  clerk. 

The  courteous  clerk  explained  that  his  chief  im- 
ported half  a  dozen  of  the  toys  last  year.  They  cost 
about  $6  each,  and  were  sold  at  from  $8  to  $1 0.  He 
continued  :  "Our  firm,  having  a  toy  factory,  resolved 
to  find  workmen  in  this  country  capable  of  making 
the  same  kind  of  mechanism.  They  succeeded,  and 
now  the  toys  ar€  made  at  a  cost  of  about  $36  a 
dozen. " 


Dashes  Here  and  There. 


729 


"Do  you  sell  many?" 

"Yes,  as  fast  as  we  can  manufacture.  A  few  clays 
ago  we  had  an  order  for  fifty  from  a  Western  retail 
tea  store. " 

"What  would  a  tea  store  want  with  such  things  V 

"They  give  them  away  to  purchasers  of  tea  and 
coffee.  These  tea  men  nowadays  give  away  many 
things  in  our  line.  We  sell  them  dolls,  toilet-sets, 
boxes  of  paints,  and  many  other  knick-knacks.  Just 
go  up  to  Grand  street  and  see  what  they  have  in  their 
windows  to  give  away  to  customers. " 

Thanking  the  urbane  Broadway  clerk,  the  reporter 
wended  his  way  to  Grand  street  to  find  out  how  tea 
stores  can  afford  to  be  so  liberal. 

In  due  time  he  stej^ped  into  a  store,  the  leading  tint 
of  which  was  vermillion.  There  was  nothing  to  dis- 
tinguish the  interior  from  a  crockery  store  except  the 
vermillion  and  a  strong  odor  of  roasted  coffee.  The 
reporter  approached  a  man  who  presided  over  the 
cash  desk,  and  wore  a  polo  caj:)  and  a  sweet  smile,  and 
who  proved  to  be  the  manager  of  the  concern,  and 
asked  how  tea  stores  could  be  so  lavish  with  crockery 
and  such  things  to  their  patrons. 

"Some  years  ago,"  said  the  wearer  of  the  polo 
cap,  "a  house  in  this  city  began  giving  away  cheap 
chromos.  That  was  the  beginning  of  the  eviL  Their 
trade  increased,  for  in  those  days  people  were  chromo 
crazy.  The  introduction  of  glassware  and  crockery 
had  its  origin  in  the  inventive  brain  of  a  man  who  is 
now  very  wealthy  and  is  in  business  on  Second  avenue. 
I  wish  he  was  in  Jericho.  Then  began  sharp  com- 
petition.   Each  tea  man  vied  with  the  others  in  in- 


730 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


venting  some  new  "fake"  to  catcli  the  foolish  house- 
keeper. The  customers,  wlien  posted  in  this  gift 
enterprise  business,  became  very  exacting.  I  shouldn't 
be  surprised  some  day  to  hear  a  lady  asking  for  a  ton 
of  coal  or  a  piano  after  purchasing  five  pounds  of 
tea. 

"With  every  purchase  of  tea  and  coffee  we  give 
tickets  in  this  way  :  With  one  pound  of  50-cent  tea 
or  with  two  pounds  of  30-cent  coffee  we  give  one 
whole  ticket.  This  is  the  basis.  Some  articles  that 
we  give  away — such  as  lamps  and  clocks — require  as 
many  as  twenty-five  full  tickets.  One  ticket  on  an 
average  is  equal  to  from  six  to  eight  cents  off  the 
profits. 

"Your  profits  must  be  pretty  large  to  permit  of 
such  liberality, "  suggested  the  reporter. 

"Well,  now,  I  don't  mind  telling  you,  since  you 
seem  anxious.  Our  teas  at  50  cents  a  pound  cost  us 
about  21  cents,  and  our  coffee  at  30  cents,  when  we 
sell  it  ground,  stands  us  about  12  cents  a  pound,  so 
you  see,  even  though  we  are  liberal,  we  will  make  a 
large  profit.  '■ 

"You  say  when  you  sell  the  coffee  ground?" 

"That's  what  I  said.  You  see,  chiccory,  rye,  and 
peas  do  not  cost  as  much  as  coffee. " 

"And  where  do  they  come  in?" 

"Ah,  I  see  you  are  not  on  to  many  of  the  tricks  of 
our  trade.  Don't  you  know  that  when  we  sell  ground 
coffee  nearly  half  of  it  is  chiccory,  rye,  and  peas. 
Great  Scott!  man,  how  do  you  think  we  are  going  to 
live  and  give  an  eight-day  clock  with  ten  whole 
tickets?" 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  731 


"But  is  there  not  a  law  against  sucli  adulterations?" 

"Law,  fiddlesticks!  There  is  a  law  also  compelling 
that  man  across  the  way  to  keep  his  liquor  store  shut 
on  Sundays,  but  he  does  not  comply  all  the  same." 

"Do  you  adulterate  your  teas,  too  ?" 

"Well,  no;  that  would  not  pay.  You  sc^e  we  mix 
coffees  and  blend  teas.  By  blending  I  mean  we  mix 
good,  bad,  and  middling  together,  call  it  some  out- 
landish combination  or  'chop,'  and  'let  her  go.'" 

A  YOUNG  MAN  ABOUT  TOWN. 

There  is  no  greater  mystery  in  the  world  to  me  than 
the  average  New  York  young  man.  How  he  manages 
to  dress  and  live  as  he  does  baffles  the  keenest  scout- 
ing. On  a  salary  that  is  meagre,  and  with  no  out- 
side income,  they  live  like  men  of  wealth  and  posi- 
tion. In  the  Hoffman  House,  a  few  nights  ago,  I  was 
talking  idly  with  one  of  the  conventional  New  York 
men  on  this  subject.  He  started  in  to  talk  about 
himself  and  his  affairs,  and  I  was  glad  to  have  him 
ramble  on,  as  it  interested  me.  Probably  no  class  or 
grade  of  the  New  York  young  man  is  more  familiar 
than  the  type  he  represents.  He  might  be  anywhere 
from  28  to  35  years  old,  has  a  neat  figure,  stands  erect, 
waves  his  hand  in  cordial  greeting  to  his  friends, 
dresses  admirably,  is  well  booted  and  gloved,  wears 
spotless  linen  and  a  handsome  scarf,  and  knows  all 
the  bartenders,  politicians  and  men-ab out- town  in  the 
place.  If  you  look  at  the  face  closely,  you  will  see 
many  fine  wrinkles,  and  the  eyes  are  not  always 
bright  and  alert,  but  whether  this  comes  from  too 
much  dissipation  or  too  little  good  food  and  sleep,  it 


132 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


would  be  hard  to  tell.  He  is  a  man  who  would  be 
picked  out  anywhere  for  a  New  Yorker,  and  he  is 
always  an  entertaining  companion. 

"It  is  said,"  he  remarked,  "that  one-half  the  world 
does  not  know  how  the  other  half  lives.  Truest 
thing  in  the  world.  How  much  do  you  suppose  it 
costs  me  to  live 

"About  five  thousand  a  year." 

"Phew!  Why,  if  I  had  an  income  of  that  size  I'd 
trot  about  with  the  Vanderbilts  and  Astors.  If  you 
want  a  lesson  in  economy  take  a  pencil  and  figure 
out  my  weekly  expenses  ? " 

"Well,"  I  said,  beginning  to  make  hieroglyphics 
over  the  back  of  the  bill  of  fare.  "Say  clothes^  boots, 
etc.,  per  week,  $6.30  ;  board,  $15  ;  two  extra  dinners, 
$6  ;  six  luncheons  down  town,  $4  ;  bar,  $7  ;  car  fare, 
cab  hire,  etc.,  $4  ;  laundry,  $1.50  ;  theatre,  $3  ;  horse 
shows,  dog  shows.  Coney  Island,  etc.,  $3;  newspapers, 
cigars,  toilet  articles,  etc.,  $2;  total,  $51.80." 

"There,"  I  said,  pushing  the  paper  toward  him  ; 
"that's  about  as  close  as  I  can  figure  it  off-hand. 
The  bar  is  very  light,  and  I  don't  think  I've  put  you 
down  heavily  enough  for  amusements,  for  I  see  you 
about  constantly. " 

He  glanced  over  the  list  and  grinned.  Then  he 
took  the  pencil  and  began  to  figure  rapidly  as  he 
talked. 

"In  the  matter  of  clothes,  for  instance,  I  always 
get  the  cloth  from  a  friend  of  mine  who  is  in  the 
wholesale  importing  business,  and  have  it  made  up 
by  a  little  Dutch  tailor  on  Third  Avenue.  In  this 
way  I  get  a  suit  that  would  cost  you  $70  or  $80  for 


Dashes  Here  and  There. 


733 


about  $30  or  $35.  Two  suits  a  year  is  my  allowance 
— say  $70.  I  buy  my  shoes  of  a  cobbler  in  Bleecker 
street,  and  they're  just  as  good  as  though  they  cost 
$10  a  pair.  Two  pairs  a  year  makes  $12.  My  shirts 
I  also  get  at  the  factory  where  a  friend  of  mine  is 
entry  clerk.  They  cost  me  90  cents  apiece — say  $5.40  ; 
flannels  at  wholesale,  about  $3,  and  hats  $6.  You 
see  I  know  a  trick  about  getting  a  hat  at  first  cost, 
and  I  also  know  how  to  freshen  a  hat  up  with  a  dash 
of  benzine  when  it  looks  rusty.  My  gloves  at  whole- 
sale cost  me  last  year  exactly  $2.10.  For  such  extras 
as  canes,  umbrellas  and  so  on,  say  $6.  This  foots  up 
$104.50— or  say  $2  a  week." 

"How  about  the  board?"  "That's  above  the 
ficrure.  You  see  I  room  with  another  man.  It  is 
purely  a  matter  of  business  and  we  recognize  it  as 
such.  We  are  good  friends  in  the  house,  but  we 
never  go  out  together.  By  occupying  one  room  we 
manage  to  effect  many  small  economies,  and  we  have 
an  arrangement  with  a  laundress  to  do  all  our  wash- 
ing for  $1.50  a  week.  Our  joint  board  is  $21,  and 
though  I  am  in  restaurants  and  cafes  a  good  deal,  I 
dine  out  twice  a  week  at  my  own  expense,  but  it  does 
not  cost  me  at  the  rate  of  $3  a  dinner.  I  can  dine 
at  Delmonico's  for  $1.25.  The  scheme  is  to  let  side 
dishes,  vegetables  and  dessert  alone,  and  eat  the  sturdy 
fare  only.  We'll  put  the  item  of  extra  dinners  down 
to  $2.50,  which  just  about  covers  it." 

*'Do  you  cut  into  the  luncheon  estimate  too?" 
"  Very  heavily.  My  lunch  down-town  is  a  sardine 
sandwich  and  beer,  or  roast  beef  and  beer.  I  get  a 
good  meal  for  25  or  30  cents.    It  is  in  a  cheap  place, 


734 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  course,  but  I'm  very  much  hurried  in  the  middle 
of  the  day,  and  I  really  prefer  a  hasty  snack  to  a 
heavy  lunch.  Beer  is  a  great  thing  for  the  man  of 
light  means.  So  we  put  down  the  luncheons  at  $1.80. 
Now,  concerning  the  bar,  the  outside  estimate  is  $5. 
Here  beer  saves  again.  It  is  what  I  always  buy  for 
myself,  and  if  I'm  out  with  a  crowd  and  it  is  my  turn 
to  set  them  up,  I'm  generally  clever  enough  to  steer 
them  into  a  place  where  beer  is  a  specialty.  Now, 
when  I  go  to  a  theatre,  I  buy  a  bill-board  ticket  for 
20  cents,  and  tip  the  usher  a  quarter  to  put  me  into  a 
vacant  seat. 

"  The  miscellaneous  amusements  do  not  cosfc  me 
more  than  $1.  My  list  for  a  week's  expenses  stands 
as  follows  :  Clothes,  boots,  etc.,  $2;  board,  $10.50; 
two  extra  dinners,  $2. 50 ;  six  luncheons  down-town, 
$1.80;  bar,  $5;  car-fare,  cab-hire,  etc.,  20  cents; 
laundry,  75  cents;  theatres,  45  cents;  horse  shows, 
dog  shows.  Coney  Island,  etc.,  $1 ;  Newpapers,  cigars, 
toilet  articles,  etc.,  $1 ;  total  $25.20. 

^'  There,  I've  been  a  little  too  liberal,  for  my  salary 
is  only  $25  a  week.  I  never  have  a  penny  on  Satur- 
day morning.  Saving  money  is  out  of  the  question, 
but  I  have  a  pleasant  time  and  live  up  to  the  letter 
of  the  motto,  '  As  we  journey  through  life  let  us  live 
by  the  way.' " 

TRUSTS  AND  CONFIDENCES. 

The  public  are  hardly  aware  of  the  magnitude  of 
the  power  growing  up  in  their  midst  under  the  name 
of  "tmsts. "  We  are  all  familiar  with  corporations. 
We  know  where  to  find  them.    We  know  what  their 


Dashes  Here  and  There. 


735 


powers  are.  We  can  call  tliem  to  account.  The 
shareholders  can  inspect  their  books,  and  in  some 
cases  understand  them.  They  are  the  creatures  of 
law,  and  are  subject  to  its  limitations.  These  have 
been  defined  by  judicial  decisions  extending  over 
hundreds  of  years,  so  that  anybody  who  takes  the 
trouble  can  learn  to  a  nicety  what  any  corporation 
can  do,  and  what  it  can  not.  Nearly  all  corporations, 
for  instance,  have  a  limited  capital  and  a  limited 
debt,  neither  of  which  can  be  exceeded  without  ex- 
press public  authority.  So  also  they  are  limited  as 
to  the  nature  of  their  undertakings.  A  railroad 
company  can  not  engage  in  manufacturing  or  general 
trading  without  express  authority.  A  manufacturing 
company  can  not  engage  in  navigation,  or  banking,  or 
publishing  newspapers,  or  supplying  gas  to  cities,  or 
speculating  in  land,  or  in  stocks,  or  in  any  trade  not 
specified  in  its  charter.  These  limitations  are  in  the 
interest  of  the  shareholders  as  well  as  of  the  public. 
They  are  grounded  in  reason,  and  they  form  the  sub- 
stratum of  corporate  existence  everywhere. 

The  "trust"  is  the  sphinx  of  corporations,  except 
that  it  is  not  a  corporation  at  all.  It  may  own  and 
control  many  corporations,  but  it  is  bound  by  no  law. 
There  are  no  limitations  upon  it,  not  even  those  of 
time  and  space.  Neither  the  public  nor  the  share- 
holders can  call  it  to  account.  It  has  no  fixed  abode, 
no  place  of  meeting,  no  books  of  account  that  any- 
body can  demand  access  to.  It  may  engage  in  any 
kind  of  business,  or  in  many  different  kinds  at  once. 
It  is  irresponsible  to  the  last  degree.  It  may  dissipate 
the  capital  confided  to  it  without  danger  to  anybody 


736 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


except  the  confiding  investors.  It  may  oppress  the 
public  without  fear  of  the  State,  because  there  is 
nothing  for  the  State  to  lay  hold  of.  Although  it 
calls  itself  a  trust,  it  is  as  far  as  possible  from  being 
such.  There  is  a  body  of  law  applicable  to  trusts, 
but  there  is  no  law  applicable  to  "the  trust."  It 
should  be  called  a  confidence,  since  it  has  no  similitude 
to  anything  known  to  the  law  as  a  trust. 

What  is  meant  by  a  trust  in  the  present  accepta- 
tion of  the  term,  as  Standard  Oil  trust.  Cotton  Oil 
trust.  Gas  trust,  etc.,  is  this  :  Certain  persons  conceive 
the  idea  of  buying  up  all  the  machinery  and  tools  in 
the  country  applied  to  the  production  of  some  staple 
article.  They  call  themselves  a  trust,  and  invite  the 
public  to  subscribe  money  to  carry  the  plan  into 
eifect.  They  also  invite  the  producers  of  the  article 
to  put  their  establishments  into  the  trust,  represent- 
ing that  thus  competition  can  be  controlled.  They 
have  no  act  of  incorporation.  They  could  not  get 
one  if  they  wanted  it,  and  they  do  not  want  it.  They 
get  a  certain  number  of  producers,  with  their  plant 
into  the  trust,  and  a  (certain  amount  of  money  into 
the  treasury.  Then  they  begin  to  force  the  other 
producers  to  come  in  by  employing  their  heavy  capi- 
pital  to  crush  them  if  they  do  not.  The  Standard 
Oil  trust  had,  as  is  well  known,  the  co-operation  of 
the  railroads  to  help  them  to  crush  out  rival  refiner- 
ies and  dealers ;  but  such  assistance  can  not  be  reck- 
oned on  hereafter  if  the  commerce  act  remains  in 
force. 

It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  the  public  are  will- 
ing to  put  their  money  and  property  thus  into  the 


Dashes  Here  and  There.  737 


hands  of  irresponsible  persons  beyond  the  safeguards 
of  law.  That  they  will  do  is  shown  clearly  enough 
by  the  rapid  growth  of  the  Cotton  Oil  trust.  The 
Standard  Oil  trust  is  a  slower  growth,  but  a  much 
more  formidable  one.  It  has  "  blazed  the  way  "  for 
all  others,  and  has  excited  the  investing  public  with 
a  vision  of  equally  large  profits  to  be  derived  from 
the  magical  name  of  trusts.  It  has  kindled  a  new 
form  of  madness  in  the  speculating  public,  such  as 
the  South  Sea  company  bred  after  its  kind,  in  London, 
a  century  and  a  half  ago. 


CHAPTER  XLVTI. 


MANHATTAN  CAUSERIE. 

THE  PHOTOGRAPHIC  CRAZE — TYPE-WRITING  PUT  TO  A  BAD  USE — THE 
MESSENGER  BOY — CENTRAL  PARK  AMBULANCES  —  THE  MORGUE  — 
FLOWER  MISSION — TITLED  AMERICANS — MOONLIGHT  PICNICS — METRO- 
POLITAN MOONSHINERS— STATISTICS  OF  IMMIGRATION — A  TRADE  OF 
TERROR. 

A SINGULAR  mild  madness  has  broken  out  in 
New  York  lately.  "There  was  a  time  when 
the  posing  for  photographs  in  costume  was  the  sjDecial 
privilege  of  the  actress,"  said  a  photographer  to  the 
author.  "Now,"  he  continued,  "many  women  in  this 
city  think  that  they  look  just  as  well  in  tights  as  the 
actresses,  and  day  after  day  I  am  called  upon  to  photo- 
grajDh  some  society  beauty  in  costume.  The  practice 
has  developed  into  a  craze,  and  the  photographers  are 
compelled  to  keep  nearly  every  style  of  fancy  dress 
in  existence.  But  we  have  more  women  call  for  cos- 
tumes which  show  off  their  figure  than  any  other 
sort.  Now,  if  you  step  in  here  I'll  show  you  how^  we 
manufacture  our  costumes." 

In  the  next  room  were  three  girls  working  away  at 
new  suits  made  out  of  old.  "By  the  judicious  use 
of  red  velvet  and  this  thin  material,"  continued  the 
photographer,  "with  a  liberal  allowance  of  spangles, 
we  can  make  a  king's  royal  rig  into  almost  anything 


Manhattan  Oauserie. 


739 


else.  This  year  there  is  a  run  on  '  Mikado'  costumes. 
Respectable  women  come  in  twos  and  threes  to  be 
taken  as  little  maids  from  school,  but  they  want 
the  open  skirt  in  a  majority  of  cases.  This  gives  the 
ladies  a  chance  to  show  one  limb — a  la  Goddess  of 
Liberty- — and  this  satisfies  those  who  are  too  modest 
to  have  their  picture  taken  in  tights.  Then  many 
ladies  prefer  the  decollette  dress,  but  these  females 
are  the  ones  whose  choices  are  very  select.  They 
always  have  card  photos,  and  wouldn't  think  of  sitting 
for  a  tin-type. 

A  very  pretty  girl  of  about  nineteen  came  here 
one  day  and  modestly  asked  if  I'd  photograph 
her  in  tights.  I  said  yes,  showed  her  to  the  dress- 
ing-room, and  handed  her  a  new  costume.  When 
she  again  made  her  appearance  she  was  a  very  queer 
sight.  The  costume  was  too  small  for  her,  and  fitted 
her  full,  plump  form  skin  tight.  She  insisted  that  it 
was  plenty  large,  and  was  just  what  she  wanted.  I 
told  her  if  her  picture  was  taken  just  as  she  looked 
then,  that  Anthony  Comstock  Avould  call  upon  me  f  oi* 
an  explanation.  Then  she  got  rattled,  stamped  her 
little  foot,  and  asked  what  I  kept  a  photographing- 
establishment  for  if  I  wouldn't  photograph  a  cus- 
tomer. She  said  she  would  take  eight  dozen  card 
photos  of  herself  in  that  costume,  and  when  I  asked 
her  what  she  meant  to  do  with  them  she  said  she 
would  sell  them  for  a  dollar  each.  I  told  her  to  put 
on  her  clothes  and  get  out,  which  she  did. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  catalogue  the  various  posi- 
tions in  which  very  respectable  women  want  their  pho- 
tos taken.  Married  women,  from  adjoining  cities,  flock 


740  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


to  New  York  to  liave  their  pictures  in  tights,  and  in 
variably  on  Mondays.  Monday  afternoons  my  place 
is  generally  crowded,  for,  besides  the  married  women, 
there  are  many  young  working  girls  who  loaf  on 
Monday.  They  come  here  with  their  lunch  under 
their  arm,  dro])  into  an  easy  chair  and  sigh,  '  Oh,  dear! 
Got  any  new  costume  since  I  was  last  here  V  Then  I 
bring  out  the  Mikado  school  dress — the  one  Avith  the 
divided  skirts — and  it  generally  is  just  the  thing. 
But,  as  I  said  before,  the  majority  of  the  women 
don't  mind  being  looked  at  in  tights.  Still,  thei-e  are 
some  whose  countenance,  when  I  point  my  instrument 
at  them,  turns  to  the  malarial  flush  of  a  sunset  back 
of  Newark  bay.  There  are  many  women  who  would 
be  insulted  if  I  offered  them  tights,  but  they're  the 
ones  who  prefer  a  sport's  rig.  They  like  their  pictures 
taken  in  a  man's  full  dress  suit,  and  I  furnish  them 
with  canes  and  high  silk  hats.  I  have  some  imitation 
cigars  here  for  those  women  who  want  to  pretend 
they  are  smoking.  Then  I  keep  clay  pipes  for  ladies 
who  want  to  look  like  sailors,  and,  let  me  tell  you,  it 
is  amusing  to  see  a  sailor's  costume  on  a  female  who 
weighs  250  pounds  or  over.  There  was  a  fat  woman 
in  here  about  a  fortnight  ago  who  had  her  picture 
taken  as  a  swell,  and  a  dandy  swell  she  made.  When 
she  first  came  in,  she  said  she  wanted  to  be  photo- 
graphed with  a  cigarette  in  her  mouth.  This  was  all 
the  dress  she  needed,  she  said.  Just  imagine  a  woman 
weighing  nearly  300  pounds  with  nothing  on  her  but 
a  cigarette.  I  told  her  she'd  make  a  good  sign  for  a 
cigar  store,  and  she  afterward  consented  to  have  her 
picture  in  male  attire.    What  do  the  women  do  with 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


741 


these  pictures  ?  I'll  give  it  up.  It's  too  hard  a  con- 
nundnun  to  answer." 

A  Fourteenth  street  photographer  said  :  "I  don't 
do  any  of  this  business.  Nearly  every  one  knows 
how  women  like  to  have  their  pictures  taken  over  and 
over  dozens  of  times,  and  when  they  see  a  novel  style 
they  are  sure  to  try  it.  School  girls  have  caught  the 
fever,  and  when  one  of  them  shows  her  picture  in 
costume  to  a  schoolmate,  the  latter  naturally  wants 
to  see  how  she'd  look  in  tights." 

At  this  juncture  the  photographer  was  called  to 
attend  a  customer.  She  was  a  dashing  blonde  in  a 
dazzling  new  costume,  from  feathers  to  French  boots. 
Although  the  writer  did  not  at  first  recognize  the 
original  of  a  familiar  face  which  is  seen  in  many  shop 
windows,  that  Bohemian  ease  of  address  told  him 
that  it  was  learned  novvherebut  behind  the  footlights. 
An  aristocratically  scorbutic  young  man,  with  the  fuzz 
on  his  cheeks  almost  enough  developed  to  be  dyed 
into  visibility,  accompanied  her.  "Her  pictures  go 
pretty  good,  don't  they  ? "  he  said  to  the  photographer. 
He  was  answered  in  the  afiirmative,  and  then  there 
was  a  little  whispered  confab,  the  scratching  of  a  pen 
in  the  receipt  book,  and  the  blonde  sucked  an  inky 
finger,  while  a  fascinating  young  female  behind  the 
desk  counted  some  bills  over  for  the  fourth  time  and 
handed  them  to  the  blonde. 

"Has  Marie  been  in  to-day?"  inquired  the  blonde. 
"I'm  here,"  came  the  answer  from  an  adjoining  room. 
Then  a  heavy  red  curtain  was  draw^n  aside,  and  there 
appeared  a  very  young  lady,  with  bleached  hair  and 
a  saucy  face,  and  sharp,  black  eyes.    She  was  in  an 


742 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


entrancing  dishabille,  with  a  lace  shawl  thrown  over 
her  head. 

"Come  in,  Ella,"  she  said.  "Are  you  going  to  jDose 
to-day?" 

"They're  actresses,"  explained  the  photographer, 
apologetically.  "You  musn't  think  I'm  a  hypocrite. 
What  I  said  about  photographing  in  costume,  I  meant. 
Of  course,  actresses  are  an  exception. " 

TYPE-WRITING  PUT  TO  A  BAD  USE. 

Scarcely  does  any  new  mode  present  itself,  by 
which  a  modest  intelligent  girl  can  make  a  decent 
livelihood,  ere  some  vagrant  sister  seizes  upon  the 
idea,  and  uses  it  as  a  decoy  to  crime.  The  business 
of  type-Avriting  calls  for  more  than  the  usual  amount 
of  intellectuality  in  its  professor,  and  j)ersons  to  be 
experts  need  to  have  a  good  education,  and  a  famil- 
iarity with  books  and  affairs  generally.  Such  quali- 
fications when  added  to  even  mediocre,  natural  charms, 
are  apt  to  make  a  young  type- writer  very  attractive. 
A  lady  correspondent  of  a  city  paper  gives  some 
curious  revelations  of  a  state  of  affairs  that  has 
arisen  out  of  these  facts. 

She  says :  "You  all  think  of  type-writing  as  a  Yan- 
kee miracle,  but  do  you  know  that  in  New  York  it 
is  coming  to  be  regarded  as  a  vice  ?  In  the  metropolis 
there  is  just  as  much  competition  in  wickedness  as 
there  is  in  any  of  the  straightforward  ways  of  mak- 
ing a  living,  and  evil-doers  eagerly  seize  upon  any  new 
thing  that  seems  likely  to  give  them  a  slight  advan- 
tage over  the  others  who  live  as  they  do.  My  cousin 
Tom  called  my  attention  to  this  new  department 


Manhattan  Causerie.  743 


several  months  ago.  He  undertook  a  commission  for 
me  once  when  I  wanted  some  of  my  scribbling  put 
into  the  most  presentable  shape.  He  has  an  office  in 
one  of  the  largest  office  buildings  on  Broadway,  and 
he  remembered  that  a  Miss  Brown  had  taken  a  neigh- 
boring room,  and  had  sent  out  some  neat  little  circu- 
lars calling  attention  to  the  fact  that  she  was  a  young 
girl  without  friends  in  the  great  city,  venturing  to 
gain  an  honest  livelihood;  so  he  marched  through  the 
portal,  which  was  labeled  'Miss  Brown,  Type- writing.' 

"He  was  surprised  at  what  he  noticed  there.  The 
office  was  divided  into  two  rooms,  partitioned  apart. 
In  the  first  half  Avas  a  type-writer,  a  desk  and  a 
couple  of  chairs.  Miss  Brown,  a  pouting,  plump 
young  woman,  with  blonde  hair,  at  once  led  him  into 
the  other  room,  however.  It  was  like  a  ladies'  sit- 
ting or  sewing-room,  with  its  broad,  plush-coated 
lounge,  its  rocking  chair,  marble  lavatoir  and  center- 
table,  and  yet,  unlike  a  lady's  sitting-room,  it  con- 
tained a  box  of  cigars  on  the  table  and  some  prints 
of  Bougereau's  figures  on  the  walls.  Cousin  Tom 
talked  business,  accepted  a  cigar,  talked  more  busi- 
ness, and  finally  was  just  ready  to  go,  when  Miss 
Brown  walked  up  to  him  and  putting  up  both  hands, 
patted  him  on  both  cheeks,  and  said  :  ^  Bring  me  all 
your  work,  my  dear ;  I  would  rather  do  it  for  noth- 
ing than  lose  as  handsome  a  customer  as  you.'  Tom 
is  always  original  and  always  reckless.  He  wheeled 
right  about,  dropped  into  a  rocking  chair  and  began 
to  question  Miss  Brown  without  her  knowing  it  until 
he  had  her  story. 

"It  is  not  for  me  to  repeat  it,  and  indeed  I  never 


744 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


heeded  it  or  thought  of  it  again  iintil  I  saw  that  it 
was  true,  and  that  type-writing  had  become  a  mere 
cloak  for  the  most  shameful  goings  on.  The  girl  said 
that  she  had  gone  to  her  disgrace  through  having 
learned  the  business,  and  that  after  that,  when  she 
had  not  known  what  way  to  turn,  her  destroyer  told 
her  that  all  the  down-town  offices  were  being  used  by 
persons  of  her  class,  and  had  given  her  money 
to  pay  her  first  month's  rent  and  furnished  her  apart- 
ments. She  found  it  to  be  true,  and  Tom  has  since 
told  me  that  the  evil  is  growing  worse  and  worse, 
until  now  type- writers  are  established  wherever  you 
go — in  every  law  office,  broker's  office  and  wholesale 
store — and  that  in  buildings  where  each  of  a  hundred 
offices  has  one,  there  are  as  many  as  twelve  or  twenty 
in  addition  in  business  for  themselves,  the  transpar- 
ent fact  being  that  there  could  not  possibly  be  work 
for  half  the  number. 

"But  the  evil  came  home  to  me  in  a  curious  way. 
I  had  a  maid — a  moderately  pretty  clod-hoy) per  of  a 
girl — who  left  me  quite  unexpectedly  a  few  weeks 
ago,  and  totally  disappeared  from  my  ken  and  that 
of  her  relatives  and  friesds.  Suddenly  the  other  day 
I  was  called  into  my  drawing-room  to  see  a  lady 
caller.  I  found  there  my  former  maid,  no^v  shining 
with  paint,  powdered  thickly,  and  weighted  down 
with  ridiculous  jewelry. 

"  ^  Why,  Minnie,'  I  exclaimed,  *  you  appear  to  be 
very  prosperous.' 

"  To  my  surprise  she  burst  into  tears. 

" '  Yah,  madam,'  slie  sobbed  ;  ^  I  vos  gwide  brosber- 
ous.    I  haf  been  ruined.' 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


745 


" '  Well,'  said  I,  with  freezing  and  unaffected 
severity,  '  can  you  explain  why  you  have  dared  to 
come  here  V 

She  then  had  the  effrontery  to  say  that  she  wanted 
me  to  get  her  a  type-writing  machine,  discount  off. 
She  said  she  had  learned  there  Avas  a  fortune  in  it, 
and  had  the  audacity  to  ask  me  to  assist  her.  I 
ordered  her  from  the  house  and,  I  trust,  humiliated 
her  as  she  deserved." 

THE    MESSENGER  BOY. 

This  ubiquitous  specimen  of  civilization  every 
one  "jaws,"  and  every  one  employs.  Many  complain 
of  his  dilatoriness,  but  give  him  a  message  to  take 
to  a  cii^cLis,  and  see  if  he  loiters  by  the  way.  When 
he  chooses  he  can  beat  a  bicycle  and  roll  cigarettes 
without  dropping  a  grain  of  the  fragrant-  weed. 
They  rush  hither  and  thither  across  one's  track,  go 
which  way  you  may — they  fly  past  your  eyes  in  as 
many  apparently  meaningless  directions  as  a  covey 
of  devil' s-darning-needles  on  the  margin  of  a  pond. 
In  New  York,  they  could  be  counted  by  tens  of  thou- 
sands, if  they'd  keep  still  long  enough.  With  all  their 
apparent  recklessness,  they  are  hourly  trusted  with 
messages  "  of  great  pith  and  moment, "  and  rarely  dis- 
appoint their  employers,  when  diligence,  faithfulness 
and  speed  are  desiderata.  It  is  rare  that  any  grave 
o:ffences  have  been  alleged  against  them,  while  on 
the  contrary,  they  have  often  proved  useful  auxiliaries 
to  justice  in  preventing  crimes  or  leading  to  the  con- 
viction of  criminals.  The  city  could  better  spare 
some  ministers  and  many  lawyers  than  its  regiment 
of  messenger  boys. 


746 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


"The  papers  is  always  a  givin' us  fellers  a  dig," 
said  one  of  these  boys  recently.  "We  hain't  never 
safe  from  their  attacks — only  wen  there's  a  'lection 
and  they  goes  fer  ther  polertishuns.  Do  yon  gillies 
think  that  because  we  fellers  are  togged  out  in  blue 
and  red  we  forgets  we're  boys  ?  I  s'pose  you  think 
rules  and  regerlations  is  a  goin'  to  take  a  real  live 
boy  an'  make  a  machine  of  him.  Boys  '11  be  boys, 
unless  he's  a  duffer,  and  then  he  hain't  no  count  for 
a  messenger.  I  tell  you  a  messenger  has  got  ter  have 
sharp  wits.  You  can  bet  yer  life  we  sees  as  many 
tings  wot's  hid  from  the  rest  of  the  world  as  you 
newspaper  fellers  do.  If  you  want  the  calcium  turned 
onto  some  dark  cases  any  time,  just  you  try  one  o' 
our  gang.  I've  seen  the  coppers  bluffed  lots  o'  times 
wen  me  an'  my  pal's  been  goin'  in  and  out  of  a  place 
rite  under  their  eyes.  I  tell  you,  cull,  if  I  was  to  tell 
you  what  I  knows  'bout  some  people,  I  could  break 
up  many  a  peaceful  home.  •  People  kick  because  we 
fellers  lie  sometimes.  Don't  you  know  that  lyin'  is 
part  of  our  bizness  ?  A  man  gives  a  boy  a  letter  to 
take  home  ter  his  wife.  He  gets  the  note  from  a 
man  in  a  poker  room,  a  concert  hall  or  some  other 
place  like  that.  When  he  gets  to  de  man's  house, 
though,  he  has  to  tell  de  lady  dat  he  got  the  lecter 
from  de  man  at  his  offis,  where  he  left  him  lookin' 
almost  dead  from  hard  work.  It  is  no  use  to  talk,  I 
tell  you,  the  messenger  boys  haint  half  so  bad  as 
people  thinks  the}^  is. " 

CENTRAL  PARK  AMBULANCE. 

In  the  course  of  the  spring  of  1886,  many  accidents 


Manhattan  Causeuie. 


747 


occurred  in  Central  Park,  wlricli  made  manifest  tliat 
a  separate  ambulance  could  be  of  infinite  service  in 
the  park.  Commissioner  John  D.  Cummins,  who  ap- 
pears imbued  with  much  of  the  good  sense  and  enter- 
prise of  the  first  set  of  park  commissioners,  has,  in 
conjunction  with  his  associates,  arranged  it  that  an 
ambulance  will  be  placed  in  the  Arsenal,  with  a  horse 
always  between  the  shafts,  ever  ready  for  a  start. 
By  this  plan  it  is  hoped  to  render  more  prompt  atten- 
tion to  the  injured.  The  hospitals  have  always  given 
very  good  service,  but  a  policeman  desiring  to  sum- 
mon an  ambulance  from  a  hospital  must  first  com- 
municate with  the  Arsenal,  from  which  a  call  is  made. 
This  consumes  time,  and  more  time  is  lost  in  the  am- 
bulance reaching  the  park.  By  the  new  plan,  the 
ofiicer  will  go  to  the  nearest  telephone  and  the  am- 
bulance will  start  at  once.  There  are  six  telephones 
in  the  park,  so  distributed  that  an  officer  can  reach 
one  within  five  minutes  at  the  most.  The  ambulance 
will  be  in  charge  of  a  man  with  some  knowledge  of 
the  remedies  which  should  be  applied  immediately, 
and  which  are  taught  by  the  First  Aid  to  the  Injured 
Society.  The  ambulance  will  be  of  service  in  many 
ways.  Unfortunately,  it  is  a  fact,  that  many  persons 
visit  the  park  for  the  purpose  of  committing  suicide. 
Prompt  relief  would  save  the  lives  of  many  of  such 
as  have  only  wounded  themselves.  Then,  its  value 
in  the  case  of  persons  injured  in  collisions,  who  sud- 
denly fall  ill,  or  who  are  suffering  from  sunstroke,  is 
apparent.  When  a  person  is  killed,  hospital  ambu- 
lances will  not  remove  the  body.  In  consequence  of 
this  rule,  the  body  of  a  lady  lay  where  she  was  killed 


748 


WONDERF  OF  A  GUEAT  CiTY. 


by  jumping  out  of  her  carriage,  for  some  time,  and 
had  then  to  be  carried  away  in  an  open  wagon,  ex- 
posed to  the  eyes  of  all — a  painful  circumstance  not 
only  for  her  friends  but  also  for  visitors  to  the  park. 

"Hereafter  the  course  of  the  Society  for  First  Aid 
to  the  Injured  will  be  a  part  of  the  instruction  of  all 
park  policemen.  Recently  the  life  of  a  little  boy 
who  fell  into  one  of  the  lakes,  was  probably  saved  by 
an  officer  acquainted  with  the  society's  methods,  and 
Miss  Pendleton  was  restored  to  consciousness  after  the 
runaway  accident  by  the  same  means. "  It  will  be 
well  for  stranger  visitors  to  the  park  to  bear  these 
facts  in  mind,  and  seek  for  an  officer  as  quickly  as 
possible. 

THE  MORGUE. 

For  the  few  years  preceding  1886,  the  repoii;  of 
the  head  keeper  of  the  City  Morgue  makes  the  sad 
announcement,  that  nearly  half  a  thousand  unfortu- 
nates occupy  the  marble  slabs  of  this  dismal  recep- 
tacle of  the  dead,  annually.  A  great  portion  of  this 
large  number  came  to  their  end  by  drowning,  and  the 
bulk  of  these  poor  creatures,  it  was  quite  evident, 
owed  their  death  to  preventible  causes,  by  falling 
accidentally  from  vessels  or  wharves.  To  many,  at 
once,  the  dark  theories  of  perhaps  murder  and  suicide 
will  present  themselves  as  being  accountable  for 
a  greater  part  of  the  deaths  assigned  to  the  rivers, 
but  inquiry  on  these  points,  and  a  reference  to  the 
facts,  show  that  out  of  the  eighty-eight  drowning 
cases  so  far  recorded,  not  more  than  eight  could  be 
put  down  as  deliberate  suicides,  while  there  was  not 


"Remo\:mg  and  "R.ece\\[mg  "Dead  Bodies  at  f\ie  Morg\ie. 


Manhattan  Causerie.  749 


a  single  case  in  whieli  evidence  of  murder  was  found. 
Along  the  North  river  a  number  of  private  piers  of 
the  foreign  steamship  companies  are  kept  closed  at 
night,  ^vhen  not  in  use,  and  large,  heavy  gates,  at  which 
a  watchman  is  generally  on  guard,  prevent  any 
wandering  pedestrian  or  would-be  suicide  from  getting 
into  the  river.  But,  while  these  protected  docks  are 
even  an  exception  on  the  North  river,  there  are  still 
fewer  on  the  East  river.  This  difference  between  the 
two  sides  of  the  city  water  front  is  glaringly  appar- 
ent, when  upon  glancing  over  the  fatal  list,  it  is  noticed 
that  the  larger  percentage  of  bodies  taken  from  the 
water,  were  recovered  from  the  East  river  docks. 
There  are  but  few  suicides  from  piers.  Those  who 
wish  to  end  their  existence  in  the  river,  now  generally 
ride  out  to  the  middle  on  a  ferry  boat  and  jump  in." 

THE  FLOWER  MISSION. 

"He  that  spake  as  never  man  spake"  was  never 
weary  of  illustrating  his  admonitions  by  referring  to 
the  flowers.  "Consider  the  lilies  of  the  valley,  they 
toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin,  and  yet  I  say  unto  you 
that  not  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  arrayed 
like  one  of  these. "  Very  many  of  the  good  ladies 
of  New  York,  aware  of  the  softening  and  humani- 
zing effects  produced  by  the  rich  colors  and  sweet 
perfumes  of  flowers,  have  organized  missions,  the  fair 
members  giving  their  time  and  attention  to  the  un- 
packing, arranging,  and  distributing  of  these  loveliest 
gifts  of  the  good  God.  The  Flower  Mission  begins 
operations  in  the  middle  of  May,  and  thousands  of 
the  inland  dwellers  collect  and  send  some  of  the 


750 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


sweetest  products  of  their  gardens  to  bless  the  senses 
of  sight  and  smell  amid  the  dwellings  of  their  less 
foi*tunate  fellow  creatures,  who  are  "cabined,  cribbed, 
confined"  in  the  dark  and  stifling  abodes  that  are  too 
often  the  "homes"  of  industrious  poverty. 

At  present,  less  flowers  are  received  than  could  be 
used,  while  aid  in  arranging  and  packing  continues 
suflBcient.  A  month  hence  the  conditions  will  be  in 
a  measure  reversed.  Society  will  be  largely  out  of 
town,  so  that  the  girls'  deft  fingers  will  be  missed  on 
Mondays  and  Thursdays,  when  the  basket  loads  and 
box  loads  of  flowers  arrive  from  near  and  distant  sec- 
tions, conveyed  gratuitously  by  the  different  express 
companies.  About  two  hundred  stations,  including 
some  in  Connecticut,  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont, 
as  well  as  the  greater  number  at  less  distances,  are 
])oints  for  this  floral  transportation.  From  all  ap- 
pearances, the  system  is  one  in  which  money  in  no  way 
enters.  It  is  also  carried  on  almost  as  noiselessly  as 
the  part  taken  in  it  by  Nature  herself.  The  fact  is 
generally  known  that  the  use  of  the  building  is  given 
by  All  Souls'  Church.  For  the  rest,  and  since  the 
work  was  established  in  1870,  it  has  been  conducted 
by  women  whose  names  are  never  a  part  of  pub- 
lic communications  —  Protestant,  Eoman  Catholic, 
Hebrew.  Their  aid  is  directed  to  every  kind  of  insti- 
tution for  the  sick  of  body  or  mind. 

Undoubtedly,  an  equally  great  benefit  is  connected 
with  the  distribution  of  flowers  and  delicacies  to  the 
sick  in  tenement  houses,  with  the  assistance  of  city 
missionaries,  Bible  readers,  sick  nurses,  and  church 
visitors.    Jellies,  beef  tea,  farina,  cocoa,  and  different 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


751 


articles  used  in  cooking  for  tlie  sick,  are  frequently 
among  contributions  to  the  mission.  Fruits  and  f resk 
eggs  are  specially  prized. 

Tke  flowers  arriving,  packed  loosely  in  baskets  with 
wet  paper  between,  are  first  sorted  and  classed  in 
three  different  grades.  The  most  fragrant  and  deli- 
cate are  for  the  sick.  Those  which  are  fresh  and 
bright,  although  of  secondary  choice,  go  to  the  poor, 
and  others  less  desirable  to  the  children  of  the  indus- 
trial schools,  and  to  those  in  the  street. 

"Isn't  it  dreadful,"  cries  an  animated  worker, 
bunching  up  flowers  with  swift  dives  into  the 
mass,  "  the  way  they  run  after  you." 

Care  is  taken  in  selecting  fragrant  varieties  in  mak- 
ing bouquets  for  the  blind,  and  if  possible  each  con- 
tains a  rose.  At  the  Cremorne  Mission  flowers  are 
given  out  in  the  evening  meeting  as  well  as  being 
furnished  for  decorating  the  room.  Great  joy  was 
recently  given  at  the  Old  Ladies'  Home,  at  Eighty- 
ninth  street  and  Madison  avenue,  by  a  concert  for 
which  the  mission  decorated  the  rooms  with  snow- 
balls, azaleas  and  other  flowers. 

One  hundred  and  twenty-six  institutions  are  on  the 
list  for  which  this  system  provides.  Its  facilities  for 
so  vast  a  work  have  been  recently  increased  by  the 
formation  of  auxiliary  societies  out  of  the  city  work- 
ing in  connection,  as  at  Flushing,  and  on  Staten  Island. 

TWO   PEINCELY  GIFTS. 

While  the  Presbyterian  Hospital  on  Fifth  avenue, 
overlooking  Central  Park,  New  York,  towers  heaven- 
ward, a  splendid  example  of  the  humanity  and  gen- 


752  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


erosity  of  James  Lennox,  opening,  as  it  does,  its  ample 
doors  to  the  injured  and  sick  of  all  creeds  and  con- 
ditions of  men. 

The  Lennox  Presbyterian  Hospital  is  one  of  the 
noblest  buildings  of  its  kind  in  the  universe.  It  is 
composed  of  several  separate,  yet  conjoined,  build- 
ings of  a  very  ornate,  yet  tasteful,  style  of  archi- 
tecture, and  occupies  a  whole  city  square  of  perhaps 
the  most  desirable,  and  certainly  the  healthiest  land, 
in  the  island  of  Manhattan.  It  is  bounded  by  Madison 
and  Fourth  avenue,  fronting  on  the  former,  and  hav- 
ing East  Seventy-first  and  Seventy-second  on  either 
side.  Its  upper  windows  overlook  Central  Park,  from 
which  it  is  but  a  block  away.  It  is  fully  equipped 
in  every  way  to  do  an  immense  deal  of  good. 

On  the  Brooklyn  side  of  the  East  river  is  just  being 
hurried  to  completion  the  grand  pile  of  buildings 
that  owe  their  origin  and  building,  in  great  part,  to 
the  humane  promptings  of  George  I.  Seney,  of  Brook- 
lyn. While  engaged  in  the  fierce  race  for  fortune, 
and  seemingly  laying  his  foundations  stable  and  sure, 
he  found  a  way  to  give  a  large  part  of  his  valuable 
time,  and  a  goodly  portion  of  his  justly  acquired 
wealth,  to  the  erection  of  the  Methodist  hospital. 
George  I.  Seney,  who,  in  February,  1881,  offered  to 
Rev.  Dr.  James  M.  Buckley  to  give  $100,000  and  six- 
teen eligible  lots,  valued  at  $40,000,  as  a  site  ''toward 
the  establishment  and  erection  of  a  hospital,  the  insti- 
tution to  be  a  Methodist  general  hospital,  but  open  to 
Jew  and  Gentile,  Protestant  and  Catholic,  heathen 
and  infidel,  on  the  same  terms." 

A  few  days  later  he  increased  his  donation  by  $100,- 


Manhattan  Oauserie. 


753 


000.  He  selected  a  board  of  trustees,  and  the  hospital 
was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature  in  the  May  fol- 
lowing. The  site  selected  was  on  the  slope  from  the 
v\^est  side  of  Prospect  Park,  covering  the  entire  block 
between  Seventh  and  Eighth  avenues  and  Sixth  and 
Seventh  streets— 200  by  700  feet.  The  plans  of  John 
Mumford,  the  architect,  wwe  accepted,  and  on  Sept. 
20,  1882,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  with  impressive 
ceremonies.  Work  progressed  steadily,  until  the 
spring  of  1884,  when  the  financial  embarrassment  of 
Mr.  Seney  put  a  stop  to  it.  All  the  expenses  were 
borne  by  him.  He  was  the  chairman  of  the  building 
committee,  approved  the  plans  and  exercised  a  general 
supervision  of  the  work.  During  this  time,  the  orig- 
inal donation  was  exhausted,  as  well  as  $210,000  ad- 
ditional, which  Mr.  Seney  also  gave.  Recently,  the 
leading  ministers  and  members  of  the  Methodist 
church  have  arranged  to  collect  sufficient  to  fully 
complete  this  noble  proof  of  individual  charity. 

TITLED  AMEEICANS. 

The  distribution  of  titles  to  such  rich  and  distin- 
guished Americans,  as  may  have  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  foreign  potentates,  is  not  so  common  as  those 
familiar  with  our  Constitution  might  imagine.  The 
law  of  the  land  is,  that  nobody  can  accept  a  favor 
from  a  foreign  Power,  in  the  way  of  ribbons,  decora- 
tions, etc.,  except  by  consent  of  Congress.  With  the 
exception  of  certain  navy  people,  who  sometimes  re- 
ceive elegant  presents  from  foreign  Governments  for 
services  rendered  or  acknowledged,  public  servants 
of  the  United  States  usually  go  empty  handed.  They 


754  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


expect  nothing,  and  they  are  not  disappointed.  It  is 
quite  the  fashion,  or  used  to  be  in  the  early  days,  for 
foreign  Governments  to  lavish  upon  distinguished 
American  officers,  titles  and  distinctions.  Louis 
XVIII.  gave  Commodores  Decatur  and  Bainhridge 
swords  and  parchments,  which  our  own  Congress  re- 
fused them  permission  to  accept.  Louis  Philippe 
scattered  honors  about,  mostly  upon  naval  and  dip- 
lomatic officers,  and  once  the  queen  of  Great  Britain 
bestowed  a  Knightship  upon  Capt.  Silas  Stringham, 
of  the  United  States  navy,  for  some  act  of  gallantry 
in  the  rescue  of  a  British  frigate  and  crew  from  im- 
minent peril.  Again  Congress  refused  "Sir  Silas" 
the  honor  of  acceptance  of  the  title,  though  it  did 
allow  him  to  take  the  sword  that  accompanied  it. 

Congress  has  invariably  refused  persons  in  the 
Government  service  the  right  to  accept  distinctions 
of  this  kind.  Swords,  snuff-boxes,  and  articles  of 
vertu  have  sometimes  been  allowed  to  slip  through, 
but  no  American  has  ever  yet  had  the  brazen  impu- 
dence to  assume  a  title  of  distinction  conferred  by  a 
foreign  Government.  When  they  have  been  con- 
ferred, they  are  usually  received  gratefully,  the  rib- 
bon and  jewel  hidden  away  and  kept  for  the  glorifi- 
cation of  the  next  generation. 

Sir  George  Pullman,  of  sleeping-car  fame,  would 
like,  above  all  things,  to  have  his  title  recognized,  and 
have  the  power  to  emblazon  its  shield  and  quarter- 
ings  upon  his  cards  and  coach  panels,  but  Sir  George 
will  have  to  wait  awhile.  ^'Sir  Silas"  Strino-ham 
once,  in  a  spirit  of  independence,  hoisted  his  pennant 
to  the  fore,  like  a  titled  English  Captain  is  permitted 


Manhattan  Causi^rie. 


755 


to  do,  but  lie  was  yanked  up  to  the  "  chock-block  "by 
old  George  Bancroft,  who  was  at  that  time  Secretary 
of  the  Navy.  Old  "  Sir  Silas"  never  again  ventured 
to  air  his  kiiightship. 

A  new  crop  of  American  Knights  and  Honoiaries 
bloomed  out  about  the  time  of  the  various  foreign 
expositions.  These  all  had  strong  commercial  flavor, 
and  their  existence,  or  rather  their  creation,  became 
meat  for  the  newspapers.  Foreign  Governments 
began  to  see  the  uselessness  of  investing  professional 
people  with  orders  and  ribbons.  With  a  satire  that 
is  almost  grim,  they  said  :  Let  us  decorate  the  Yan- 
kees in  their  own  w^ay. " 

At  the  Paris  Exposition,  Cyrus  McCormick,  the 
reaper  manufacturer,  became  a  Chevalier  of  the  Cross 
of  the  Legion  of  Honor — not  for  heroic  deeds,  not 
for  valorous  or  chivalric  accomplishments  in  action, 
but  for  the  wondrous  power  of  his  inventions  in  the 
wheat  fields  of  the  universe. 

At  the  Vienna  Exposition,  the  Emperor  Francis 
Joseph  conferred  uponThaddeus  Fairbanks,  the  scale 
man,  the  honor  of  knighthood.  "Sir"  Thaddeus  died 
only  a  year  or  so  ago,  but  his  family  treasure  the 
honor  just  as  much  as 'if  it  were  the  inheritance  of 
blood — not  measured  in  the  scales.  Howe,  the  sew- 
ing-machine man,  got  a  half-dozen  medals  and  decor- 
ations, but  as  soon  as  it  became  knoAvn  abroad  that 
he  was  a  spread-eagle  adventurer,  and  was  just  as 
likely  as  not  to  hang  his  sacred  ribbon  and  decorations 
in  his  machine-shop  window,  as  an  advertisement, 
even  the  free  and  easy  and  commercial  Louis  Napoleon 
drew  the  line:     "No  more  medals  and  things  for 


756 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City, 


Howe,"  said  the  Emperor  to  one  of  his  satellites. 
"When  I  want  to  use  Howe,  I'll  invite  him  to  sup 
alone  with  me.  He'll  think  more  of  that  than  of  a 
ribbon.    He  can  eat  my  supper,  but  he  can't  sell  it." 

During  the  latter  portion  of  the  reign  of  Napoleon 
HI.,  the  Cross  of  the  Legion  became  little  thought 
of.  The  great  exposition  destroyed  its  value  in  the 
estimation  of  the  aristocracy,  and  the  freedom  with 
which  the  ribbon  and  cross  were  given  to  the  sewing- 
machine  man,  and  the  other  branches  of  "trade,"  broke 
the  hearts  of  the  older  "chevaliers." 

But  the  Americans  who  won  such  prizes  had,  after 
all,  but  little  use  for  them.  But  one  man  ever  dared 
to  use  it  as  an  advertisement.  The  wives  of  some  of 
the  others  tried  to  use  the  distinction  socially  and 
for  their  benefit,  but  they  were  so  laughed  at  that 
they  were  quick  to  haul  in  their  title  and  forget  it. 
Mrs.  Stock  well,  a  daughter  of  Elias  Howe,  once 
thought  to  pose  at  Newport  as  a  Countess,  because 
the  old  man  could  have  been  known  abroad  as  Sir 
Elias  Howe,  but  the  poor  woman  was  not  only  laughed 
at,  but  advised  to  go  and  buy  a  copy  of  Burke  to 
prove  to  her  that  daughters  of  Sir  Knights  even  in 
England  are  not  Countesses.  Poor  old  Howe!  Neither 
his  knightship  nor  his  money  did  him  much  good,  for 
he  died  almost  a  bankrupt. 

The  Pacific  coast  has  had  more  titulary  honors  than 
any  other  one  section  of  the  country.  The  people 
who  win  them  there  have  plenty  of  money  to  buy 
them  in  the  market,  and  are  too  generous  to  question 
each  other's  antecedents.  The  Pope  and  King  Kalakaua 
distribute  most  of  the  Pacific  honors.    D.  J.  Oliver 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


1b1 


and  Mr.  Murphy,  of  Miirptiy,  Grant  &  Co.,  are  very 
rich,  very  liberal,  and  very  devoted  to  the  Church. 
A  few  years  ago,  the  Pope  made  them  both  Marquises 
of  the  Vatican.  This  gave  rise  to  chatter.  Oliver 
being  the  older,  had  the  precedence.  This  Murphy 
would  not  stand,  and  for  several  weeks  there  was  no 
intercourse  between  them,  and  it  is  not  thought  that 
they  speak  now. 

The  only  real  Sir  Knight  on  the  Pacific  coast  is  Sir 
Claus  Spreckels.  He  is  the  creation  of  King  Kalakaua, 
and  a  pretty  tougli  old  knight  he  is.  The  story  runs 
in  'Frisco,  that  Sir  Claus  was  knisrhted  over  a  steam- 
ing  1)0 wl  of  palaio,  and  that  his  Majesty,  of  Hawaii, 
scarcely  knew  at  the  time  wdi ether  he  was  decorating 
Sir  Clans,  or  painting  the  whole  kingdom.  At  any 
rate.  Sir  Claus  wore  his  jewel  and  ribbon  afterwards, 
and  carried  about  w^ith  him  the  King's  acceptances 
for  over  $700,000,  wnth  three  or  four  sugar  plantations 
as  security.  The  California  papers  made  a  good  deal 
of  fun  of  Sir  Claus;  but  one  day,  and  quite  I'ecently, 
too,  he  and  King  Kalakaua  quarreled,  and  Sir  Claus 
threw  his  jewel  contumeliously  at  the  King's  feet. 
So  now  Sir  Clans  is  again  plain  Mr.  Spreckels,  with 
the  Inter-State  Commerce  bill  destroying  his  market 
for  sugar,  and  his  young  and  enterprising  family 
begging  him  to  go  back  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  and 
pick  up  his  "chewel." 

John  W.  Mackay  once  had  the  offer  from  the  King 
of  Italy  of  a  dukedom.  It  was  about  the  time  of 
his  stepdaughter's  marriage  to  the  Prince  of  Colonna. 
"To  h —  wid  it!"  exclaimed  John,  in  his  broad  dia- 
lect.   "Pd  see  him  in  Tophet  nrst.    Let  th'  old  woman 


758 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


make  a  fool  of  herself  if  she  wants,  but  what  wud 
they  say  of  me  back  on  the  Comstock — John  Maekay 
a  duke!" 

Mr.  Mackay  would  never  accept  titular  honor  of 
any  kind.  His  wife  is  not  so  dainty.  She  could  not 
get  herself  a  title  abroad,  because  old  John  would 
not  let  her,  but  slie  married  her  daughter  to  a  Prince, 
and  her  sister  to  a  Count.  Mrs.  Mackay  is  in  a  meas- 
ure successful  in  her  ambition. 

MOOT^-LIGIIT  PICNICS. 

There  are  many  phases  of  life  in  the  metropolis 
worthy  the  pen  of  a  Dickens.  They  are  so  different 
from  the  ordinary  every-day  events  of  all  other  Amer- 
ican cities,  that  it  is  right  difficult  to  set  about  truth- 
fully enumerating  even  a  few  sample  ones.  Chief  of 
all,  however,  is  the  moonlight  picnic,  being  unto  itself 
an  unsurpassed  novelty.  The  moonlight  picnic,  to 
speak  of  this  fixture  in  the  singular,  is  always  given 
by  some  ward  organization,  either  to  some  island  up 
the  Hudson  or  Sound,  or  a  convenient  spot  in  Jersey 
— convenient  to  New  York  by  water.  A  barge  and 
a  tug,  a  bar,  and  a  brass  band,  are  the  necessary  es- 
sentials. When  a  moonlight  picnic  leaves  the  dock 
the  bar  is  patronized  with  a  will  for  something  like 
a  half  hour,  and  then  the  deck  is  cleared  by  the  com- 
mittee of  arrangements,  and  the  band  begins. 

The  dance  on  an  excursion  barge  opens  with  much 
ceremony.  The  gentlemen  bow,  the'ladies  curtsey,  as 
they  accept  an  invitation  or  don't,  and  everything  is 
as  formal  almost  as  it  would  be  in  a  ball-room  ashore ; 
but  it  don't  last.    It  is  fun,  not  etiquette,  the  moon- 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


759 


light  picnicker  is  after,  and  if  he  don't  get  it  it  isn't 
his  fault.  Within  an  hour,  the  girls  have  their  wraps 
off,  and  the  men  are  in  their  shirt  sleevea  At  the 
end  of  another,  you  no  longer  invite  your  partner,  but 
take  the  first  lady  you  fancy  from  her  seat,  and 
whirl  her  off  into  the  gay  and  melting  round.  The 
third  hour  brings  with  it  the  privilege  of  exchanging 
partners  on  the  floor,  if  they  will  let  you,  and  doing 
pretty  much  whatever  you  please,  from  dancing  in 
your  bare  feet  to  tripping  the  fat  girl  with  the  green 
hat  up,  and  then  telling  her  that  there  has  been  a  big 
fall  in  lard.  This  style  of  witticism  is  always  very 
much  relished  at  a  moonlight  picnic  by  everybody 
but  the  person  it  is  applied  to— that  is,  and  by  the 
time  you  get  off  a  few  specimens  you  will  be  gratified 
to  hear  the  girls  you  haven't  been  guying,saying  to  one 
another  :  "He's  a  real  funny  fellow,  isn't  he  ?  And 
so  good  natured. " 

All  around  the  railing  of  the  upper  deck  flirting 
parties  hem  the  dancers  in. 

The  flirtations  of  the  moonlight  excursion  are,  like 
its  dancing  and  its  music,  more  vigorous  than  aes- 
thetic. When  you  are  not  flirting  or  dancing,  you 
are  at  the  bar,  renewing  your  backbone  with  beer  and 
hard  boiled  eggs,  against  the  next  turn.  This  is  as 
much  a  sacred  duty  on  your  part  toward  the  com- 
mittee as  it  is  to  yourself.  The  eggs  and  beer  were 
brought  on  board  to  be  consumed,  and  they  have  got 
to  be  before  you  go  home,  so  you  might  as  well  com- 
mence as  soon  as  you  can.  Sometimes  the  excursion 
has  no  definite  destination,  but  just  goes  sailing 
around,  dancing,  eating  and  drinking  till  there  is 


760 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


nothing  more  on  board  the  barge  to  sell,  and  the  -far- 
mers on  shore  have  organized  a  vigilance  committee 
and  are  looting  for  boats.  When  it  goes  to  some 
grove,  it  gets  there  abont  the  time  that  the  excursion- 
ists are  too  exhausted  to  dance  any  more,  so  they  pair 
oif  and  go  ashore  to  brace  up.  The  crew  of  the  tug 
utilize  this  opportunity  to  board  the  barge  and  get 
drunk,  and  they  have  finished  thrashing  the  bar- 
tenders and  gone  off  without  settling,  when  the  ex- 
cursionists come  trooping  back  squabbling,  or  crack- 
ing jokes,  and  the  bartenders  put  brown  paper  on 
their  wounds  and  get  ready  to  make  the  new  arrivals 
pay  the  bill  the  tug  folks  didn't. 

The  band,  meantime,  has  been  reviving  its  wind 
with  a  keg  of  beer,  and  is  as  ready  for  action  as  it 
ever  Avas.  There  is  something  marvelous  in  the 
amount  of  muscular  energy  a  sheet  iron  band  will 
develop  over  a  single  keg  of  beer.  It  reminds  one  of 
the  reply  of  the  Irishman,  who,  when  asked  whether 
he  played  the  violin  by  note  or  by  ear,  answered : 
"  By  main  stringth,  be  Jabers  !" 

It  takes  longer  to  get  started  on  the  return  trip 
than  the  voyage  out,  principally  because  the  crew  of 
the  tug  are  all  sleeping  their  drunk  off,  and  the  cap- 
tain has  to  go  around  with  a  locust  club  and  argue 
with  them ;  but  however  great  the  delay  may  be, 
there  are  sure  to  be  some  people  left  behind. 

The  boat  takes  its  time  towing  the  picnic  back,  but 
nobody  bothers  about  it.  All  sit  with  heels  on  the 
railing,  and  drink  beer  without  counting  the  glasses. 
A  one-eyed  gentleman  from  the  Fourth  Ward  develops 
comic  talent  and  sings  songs  which  nobody  listens  to^ 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


761 


accompanied  by  hideous  facial  contortions,  supposi- 
titiously  expressive  of  intense  and  varied  emotions. 
When  he  finishes,  the  girls  all  applaud  wildly  and 
laugh  till  they  cry.  Then  some  one  suggests  a  can- 
can, and  the  proposition  is  received  with  rapture. 
The  band  brisks  up  and  the  moon,  peeping  under  the 
roof  of  the  open  deck  as  if  it  was  ashamed  to  look, 
sees  a  picnic  version  of  the  dance  of  the  mabille. 
Then  there  is  more  beer  and  more  singing.  A  young 
lady  in  scarlet  velvet  does  a  clog  ;  she  has  just  learned 
preparatory  to  blazing  on  the  public  from  the  variety 
stage.  A  couple  of  rollicking  would-be  variety  actors, 
having  provided  themselves  with  masquerading  gar- 
ments, don  them,  and  give  the  company  a  sample  of 
their  talent.  This  excites  a  spirit  of  emulation  in 
other  young  ladies,  and  they  exhibit  various  kindred 
acquirements.  All  are  so  interested  that  none  notice 
that  the  barge  has  ceased  to  progress,  until  some  one 
sees  the  tug  steaming  swiftly  down  the  river.  "The 
line  parted,"  says  a  committee  man,  coolly,  "  and  they 
hadn't  no  other  one,  so  they  went  on  to  New  York." 

"  And  we've  got  to  lay  here  all  night  ?" 

"  It  looks  so." 

"  But  what  the  d^^  are  we  to  do  ?" 

*^  Well,  I  don't  see  much.  The  beer's  all  out,  but 
there's  twenty  dozen  of  champagne  yet,  and  I  'spose 
you  can  manage  to  worry  along  on  that  till  morning." 

The  Moonlight  Picnic  is  always  an  eminent  success. 

METROPOLITAN  MOOlN^SHIIs'ERS. 

The  majority  of  citizens,  that  solid,  respectable 
class  who  have  great  respect  for  the  majesty  of  the 


762  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

law  —  are  under  the  impression  the  business  of 
"  moonshining  "  or  distilling  spirituous  liquors  illicitly 
is  confined  to  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  Georgia. 
Such  is  not  the  case,  however.  Right  in  New  York 
city  the  work  of  defrauding  the  United  States  Gov- 
nient  by  utterly  ignoring  the  existence  of  such  an  in- 
stitution as  the  Revenue  Department,  by  making 
whisky,  is  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent.  I  can- 
not say  how  many  stills  there  are  in  operation,  be- 
cause I  am  possessed  of  no  means  of  getting  at  the 
facts,  but  I  can  swear  to  the  existence  of  one.  I  have 
been  there,  have  drunken  of  the  whisky,  and  can 
safely  pronounce  it  good.  There  was  no  desire  on 
my  part  to  aid  and  abet  individuals  in  their  attempts 
to  swindle  the  United  States  Government;  I  was  after 
the  romantic  and  picturesque  only,  and  drank  the 
liquor  merely  because  it  was  good  to  drink.  I,  for 
one,  shall  not  let  my  conscience  trouble  me  to  any 
appreciable  degree. 

Now  for  the  "  still."  It  is  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
island,  where  New  York  revels  in  rocks,  ravines,  nar- 
row lanes,  bits  of  wooded  land,  and  then  again  vast 
stretches  of  meadow.  The  house  is  back  off  the  main 
road,  and  is  an  honest,  licensed  beer  saloon,  with  its 
short  counter,  swathed  keg,  its  sanded  floor  and  one 
or  two  tables.  It  was  about  fifteen  minutes  past 
eleven  o'clock,  on  a  stormy  evening,  that  I  walked  u]) 
the  muddy  steps  of  a  house,  a  gleam  of  light  from 
the  interior  showing  that  I  was  not  too  late,  opened 
the  door  and  stalked  in.  The  sole  occupant  was  a 
very  pretty  German  girl,  about  nineteen  years  old, 
who  was  counting  the  money  from  the  till  by  means 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


763 


of  a  candle.  She  looked  at  me  hurriedly,  and  with 
anything  but  pleasure  in  the  glance.  Then  she  reached 
up  to  where  a  bell-cord  dangled  and  pulled  it  vigor- 
ously.   This  done,  she  turned  and  said  : 

"What  do  you  wish  I "  There  is  no  more  beer,  we 
are  about  to  close. " 

As  she  spoke  she  came  around  in  front  of  the  bar 
and  locked  the  doon  I  noticed  then  what  a  splen- 
didly constructed  animal  she  was. 

I  was  a  prisoner  to  a  dead  certaint)^ 

"I  want  to  see  your  father,"  I  answered. 

"And  what  do  you  want  with  her  father  V  came  in 
a  growling  tone  from  some  one  back  of  me.  I  was 
undeniably  startled,  and  upon  turning  was  far  from 
being  reassured  by  discovering  a  powerful,  tall  man, 
with  black  beard  and  hair,  who  wore  a  genuine  buc- 
caneer's appearance  generally.  I  stood  up,  but  be- 
fore I  had  time  to  explain  my  position,  it  was  ren- 
dered still  more  interesting  by  the  arrival  upon  the 
scene  of  the  wife  and  mother,  a  true  copy  of  Frochard 
in  "The  Two  Orphans,"  and  a  couple  of  brawny, 
lounging  lads,  with  sleeves  rolled  back  over  muscle- 
knotted  arms.  The  storm,  in  the  meantime,  had  risen 
to  the  dignity  of  a  tornado,  shaking  the  house  till 
the  windows  and  doors  rattled  like  the  teeth  of  a 
shivering  tramp.  It  was  a  curious  tableau.  The 
red-shirted  father,  forming  with  the  formidable  look- 
ing mother,  and  the  anything  but  mild-mannered  boys, 
a  semi-circle  of  menacing  background,  while  the  girl 
held  the  flaring  candle  aloft,  displaying,  as  she  did  so, 
an  arm  of  faultless  shape. 

At  last,  I  produced  the  letter  I  had  obtained  from 


704 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


an  old  friend  of  the  distillers.  It  stated  that  my 
visit  was  strictly  an  honorable  one,  and  that  lie  might, 
with  the  utmost  safety,  allow  me  to  inspect  the  seciets 
of  his  "still." 

When  the  bear  had  read  this  through  and  passed 
it  to  his  wife,  he  growled  out  a  welcome,  and  shook 
me  by  the  hand,  saying : 

"  That's  all  right.  I  didn't  know  at  first  but  what 
it  was  the  government  itself  making  so  late  a  call. 
We  were  just  going  to  work  when  you  came.  But 
what  do  you  say  to  a  littte  dishonest  whisky  first?" 

I  nodded  concurrence  to  the  idea,  and  a  stone  bot- 
tle with  glasses  was  produced.  The  pretty  daughter 
w^aited  upon  us,  all  smiles  and  affability  now.  After 
the  di'ink,  we  all  went  into  the  distillery.  Being  able 
to  drink  w^hisky  is  one  thing,  and  understanding 
how  it  is  made  is  another.  I  am  quite  suj'e  my 
readers  do  not  desire  any  scientific  dissertation  on 
the  subject  in  this  sketch. 

The  "still"  is  copper  or  brass,  and  connects  with 
the  worm,  which  is  attached  to  some  other  myster- 
ious contrivance.  It  was  all  there  to  be  seen,  and 
after  they  had  fixed  the  "mash"  and  attended  to  a 
few  details  about  valves  and  stop-cocks,  the  apart- 
ment was  left  in  charge  of  one  of  the  men,  and  we 
returned  to  the  front  room  to  eat  some  sausages 
which  Frochard  had  been  cooking  and  upon  Avhich 
she  staked  her  reputation.  I  liked  the  sausages  very 
well ;  they  seemed  to  suit  the  occasion,  to  fall  in  with 
the  idea  of  smuggling,  and  all  that.  The  "Pirates  of 
Penzance"  were  nowhere  in  wickedness  to  us  then. 

"Mina,  tell  the  gentleman  hoAV  you  threw  the  gau- 
ger,  and  saved  the  ^still'  that  night. " 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


765 


"You  know  I  never  tell  that  story,"  said  the  hand- 
some woman,  with  a  bit  of  red  burning  through  the 
brown  of  her  cheek,  "and  you  shouldn't  ask  me." 

"Then  I'll  tell  it,"  said  a  good-looking  young  man 
in  the  group,  as  he  knocked  the  ashes  from  his  pipe, 
"for  I  was  the  ganger,  and  she,  God  willing,  is  soon 
to  be  the  ganger's  wife. "  This  gentleman  had  made 
his  appearance  with  the  sausages. 

Mina  made  an  e:ffort  to  escape,  but  her  mother 
barred  the  way.  So  she  went  behind  the  bar  and  a 
German  newspaper. 

"It  was  about  a  year  ago,"  the  young  man  began. 
"I  was  in  the  employ  of  the  government,  simply  as  a 
ganger,  at  so  much  a  day,  but  was  sometimes  de- 
tailed on  special  duty  like  hunting  out  illicit  stills. 
I  broke  up  two  in  East  New  York  and  then  heard  of 
this  one.  Not  being  sure  of  my  game,  I  thought  I 
would  prospect  first.  I  could  at  least  destroy  the 
apparatus,  if  any  were  discovered,  and  get  the  au- 
thority af  terAvards.  It  happened  that  I  came  in  here 
when  Mina  was  all  alone.  The  old  gentleman,  his 
wife  and  boys,  suspecting  nothmg,  had  gone  to  a 
dance  over  in  Guttenberg." 

"Nein!  nein!"  came  from  the  old  lady,  "  eet  vos  a 
funeral. " 

"Well,  they  were  away,  having  some  kind  of  a 
time,  and  the  girl  was  alone  This  still  had  just 
been  put  in,  and  represented  the  small  fortune  of  the 
family.  I  did  not  know  that  then  She  came  to 
meet  me  and  asked  me  what  I  w^anted.  ^What  have 
you  got?'  I  replied.  ^Beer — weiss  beer — mineral 
water.'    'No  whisky  V     'No.'    'None  in  that  room 


766 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


there  V  and  I  started  up  to  go  into  tlie  still.  She  barred 
the  way  as  quick  as  lightning,  and  I  noticed  then 
that  she  was  dressed  as  a  man,  with  a  pair  of  blue 
overalls  stuffed  into  heavy  boots.  A  long  apron  had 
concealed  that  fact  before.  She  untied  it  and  threw 
it  away.  My  suspicions  were  confirmed  at  once,  and 
I  resolved  to  go  in.  Taking  out  my  match  safe,  I 
struck  a  light  and  advanced  to  the  door,  warning 
her  away,  telling  lier  it  was  foolish  for  a  woman  to 
oppose  me;  that  I  was  an  agent  of  the  government, 
and  was  in  the  legitimate  discharge  of  my  duties. 
My  duty  to-night  was  to  destroy  the  still  and  worm. 

"All  the  answer  she  made  was  to  blow  the  match 
out  and  close  with  me.  When  I  found  that  I  had  to 
use  force,  I  found  that  I  couldn't.  She  had  me  in  a 
vice-like  embrace.  Of  course  I  did  not  attempt  any 
blows,  and  I  doubt  if  they  would  have  been  very 
dangerous  ones  had  1  been  ruffian  enough  to  resort  to 
such  warfare.  It  became  a  fair  wrestling  match,  and, 
although  1  was  something  of  an  athlete,  I  use  no  ex- 
aggeration Avhen  I  tell  you  that  by  the  use  of  some 
mysterious  twist  or  lock  known  to  her,  I  was  thrown 
clear  over  her  head,  and  landed  partially  on  my  own, 
remaining  stunned  upon  the  sanded  floor  for  some 
time.  When  I  came  to,  she  was  bathing  my  head 
with  all  the  tenderness  of  an  angel. 

"It  is  needless  to  state  that  I  did  not  break  the 
still  that  night.  I  made  a  report,  freeing  them  from 
suspicion,  but  stated  that  I  would  keep  my  eye  upon 
the  family.  " 

"And  in  order  to  do  it  right,"  said  the  old  man, 
"he's  going  to  join  dot  same  family.  Ain'd  it  so, 
Mina?" 


Scenes  at  Castle  Garden. 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


767 


There  is  not,  however,  a  great  deal  of  moonsliining 
carried  on  in  New  York  city  proper.  In  Westchester 
and  Queen's  counties,  and,  in  fact,  about  all  the  water 
counties,  the  government  is  daily  defied  by  conductors 
of  illicit  stills.  None  are  operated  on  a  large  scale. 
The  process  would  prove  too  expensive,  as  well  as  too 
risky.  It  is  far  better  in  the  long  run,  to  make  only 
a  couple  of  barrels  a  week,  quietly,  at  odd  hours,  and 
dispose  of  it  in  the  neighborhood  to  a  steady  cus- 
tom, than  to  try  to  stock  the  market  with  contra- 
band whisky.  The  former  means  safety,  the  latter, 
almost  certain  detection.  It  costs  about  twelve  cents 
per  gallon  to  make  corn  whisky.  Sold  at  fifty  cents 
a  gallon,  a  fair  profit  is  returned.  Any  industrious 
old  farmer  or  squatter  can  make  one  hundred  gallons 
a  week,  and  by  judicious  disposal  can  shortly  accu- 
mulate a  handsome  bank  account. 

STATISTICS  OF  IMMIGEATION. 

Since  1847,  when  Castle  Garden  was  made  the 
landing-place  for  immigrants  arriving  at  this  port, 
8,456,279  of  them  have  come  through  the  water-side 
gate  of  old  Round  Fort,  and  have  streamed  to  the 
North  and  to  the  West.  How  they  have  blessed  their 
chosen  regions,  now  blanketed  with  crops  and  bright 
^vith  towns  and  cities,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say.  To 
the  South,  there  has  been  scarcely  a  leakage  from  the 
flow.  In  1886,  out  of  a  total  of  300,887  immigrants 
whose  destination  was  recorded,  the  States  south  of 
the  Potomac  and  the  Ohio  received  only  6,126,  which 
is  barely  two  per  cent.,  as  will  be  show^n  by  the  fol- 
lowing table  of  the  distribution  in  1886: 


768 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Arizona   62 

Arkansas   158 

Alabama   133 

British  Columbia   27 

Connecticut   8,023 

Colorado   1,492 

California   5,633 

Canada   2,464 

Cuba   49 

Delaware   195 

District  of  Columbia   291 

Dakota   4,536 

Florida   281 

Georgia   209 

Indiana   2,374 

Illinois   25,502 

Nevada   146 

New  Jersey   10,432 

New  York  109,554 

New  Mexico   78 

Nev/  Brunswick   13 

Ohio   9,202 

Oregon   519 

Pennsvlvania   42,103 

Rhode  Island   2,645 

South  Carolina   108 

South  America   24 

Iowa   7,886 

Idaho   108 

Indian  Territory   51 


Kentucky   724 

Kansas   4,327 

Louisiana   474 

Maine   236 

Maryland   2,300 

Michigan   9,682 

Missouri   5,286 

Minnesota   12,317 

Mississippi   95 

Montana   540 

Mexico   39 

Massachusetts   10,161 

Manitoba   19 

New  Hampshire   173 

North  Carolina   73 

Nebraska   4,993 

Tennessee   340 

Texas   3,001 

Utah   1,299 

Vermont   320 

Virginia   203 

West  Virginia   327 

Wisconsin   9,145 

Washington  Territory   255 

Wyoming   224 

West  Indies   20 

Panama   16 


Total  300,887 


A  large  part  of  the  109,554  credited  to  New  York 
came  to  the  country  without  settled  plans,  and  eventu- 
ally secured  homes  in  other  States.  These  are  what 
may  be  called  the  floating  immigration,  and  it  is  in 
behalf  of  this  material  mainly  that  the  Labor  Bureau 
of  Castle  Garden  is  busied.  It  also  finds  work  for  a 
good  many  whose  destination  is  not  recorded,  and 
who,  of  course,  do  not  appear  in  the  above  table. 
There  were  20,927  of  these,  in  1886,  making  the  total 
immigration  321,814. 

Up  to  April  1,  this  year,  there  has  been  a  gain  of 
nearly  50  per  cent.,  indicating  that  the  immigration 
by  way  of  New  York  for  1887,  will  exceed  450,000,  if 
it  does  not  surpass  the  remarkable  record  of  1881, 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


769 


wlien  455,681  immigrants  landed  here;  or  of  1882, 
when  the  climax  was  reached  with  476,086. 

The  bulk  of  the  immigrants  know  exactly  where 
they  are  going,  and  what  they  will  find  to  do  in  their 
new  homes.  In  fact,  most  of  them  are  traveling  on 
tickets  sent  them  by  friends  and  relatives  who  have 
settled  in  the  North  and  West.  The  foreign-born 
millions  of  these  regions,  and  many  of  their  children, 
are  immigration  agents  of  the  most  efficient  kind. 
They  have  family  affection  in  their  favor,  and  use 
their  own  money  freely.  It  would  be  idle  for  any 
State  to  try  to  compete  with  Michigan,  Wisconsin 
and  Minnesota  for  the  Swedes  still  to  come,  for  they 
have  nearly  all  the  Swedes  that  have  already  come. 
So  it  is  with  the  Irish,  the  Prussian  Germans,  the 
Dutch,  the  Belgians,  the  Danes,  and  other  peoples  who 
have  been  coming  to  America  in  great  numbers  for 
many  years.  The  South  will  get  few  of  these  people, 
simply  because  she  now  has  few  of  them. 

But  the  character  of  the  immigration  is  changing, 
and  therein  lies  the  opportunity  of  the  South.  New 
countries  are  becoming  sources  of  the  flow,  and  if  the 
Southern  people  want  the  increased  population  neces- 
sary to  the  full  development  of  their  States,  they  can 
get  it,  but  not  without  trouble.  To  illustrate  what 
is  meant,  the  following  table,  showing  the  numbers 
and  nationalities  of  immigrants  arriving  at  New 
York  from  the  principal  countries,  during  the  last  five 
years,  will  be  useful : 


770 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


COUNTRY. 

1882. 

1883. 

1884. 

1885. 

1886. 

52.768 

55,184 

39,996 

35,597 

36,415 

198,468 

176.691 

141,922 

98,111 

73,099 

40,849 

41,525 

32,086 

33,009 

46,215 

13.557 

8,922 

6.872 

7.897 

12,277 

4,667 

3,932 

3,898 

5,060 

4,998 

12,068 

10,326 

7,237 

6,486 

5,531 

7,078 

3,971 

3.029 

2.458 

3,323 

4,451 

3.8^10 

1,776 

1,108 

1,043 

15,147 

11.939 

9,942 

9,786 

10,443 

42.517 

19,976 

16,722 

15,707 

21.905 

Italy  

27,443 

25,485 

14.076 

16.033 

29.312 

1,043 

1,331 

1,971 

1,804 

1,704 

1.327 

1,161 

962 

1,063 

438 

12,834 

8,404 

7.100 

7,436 

8,001 

Portugal 

12 

48 

26 

48 

17 

15,900 

7,577 

12,432 

16,578 

23,987 

China  

293 

208 

158 

110 

8 

7,179 

4.877 

7.093 

■  6,697 

4,222 

10,  IDU 

1  K  7Q7 

11  1  OQ 

ii,izy 

1  Q  1  Qt; 
10,100 

19 

8 

7 

33 

27 

2,707 

3.095 

3,731 

11,251 

15.772 

404 

386 

242 

274 

257 

2,461 

195 

1,166 

122 

432 

222 

Totals  

476,086 

405,902 

330,030 

291,066 

321,814 

[The  totals  are  not  the  footings  of  the  above  columns,  but  the  actual 
arrivals  during  the  five  years,  the  names  of  countries  sending  unimportant 
numbers  being  omitted  from  the  table.] 

It  will  be  observed  that  Ireland  and  Germany  show 
a  large  falling  off.  This  is  emphasized  by  reference 
to  the  records  for  those  countries  in  earlier  years. 
More  than  100,000  Irish  came  over  in  1849,  1850, 
1851,  1852,  1853,  the  number  reaching  163,306  in 
1851 ;  more  than  80,000  came  in  1848,  1854,  1863  and 
1864,  and  more  than  60,000  in  1865,  1866, 1867,  1869, 
1870,  1871,  1872,  1873,  1880  and  1881.  Ireland  has 
been  pretty  well  drained.  From  Germany  more  than 
150,000  came  in  1854, 1881, 1882  and  1883  ;  more  than 
100,000  in  1852,  1853,  1866,  1867,  1868,  1872,  1873 
and  1880,  and  more  than  80,000  in  1857,  1865,  1869, 
1871  and  1885.    Germany  has  sent  off  her  excess  of 


Manhattan  Causerie.  771 


population.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Sweden  and 
Norway,  and  most  of  the  countries  that  have  supplied 
the  North  and  West. 

The  countries  coming  to  the  front  are  Russia,  Aus- 
tria, Italy,  and  Hungary.  The  Russian  immigrants, 
of  whom  few  or  none  are  Nihilists,  are  a  fine-looking, 
sturdy  honest  set.  They  are  nearly  all  peasant  far- 
mers, and  could  easily  be  induced  to  go  to  Kentucky, 
or  even  further  South.  They  bring  very  little  money. 
Until  1874,  Russia  scarcely  appears  in  the  Castle 
Garden  books,  and  it  was  not  until  1881,  that  the  im- 
migration from  that  country  reached  10,000.  It  will 
certainly  grow  rapidly  from  this  time  forward.  Aus- 
tria's leap  into  prominence  is  still  more  remarkable. 
The  first  immigrants  landed  from  that  country  in  1873. 
There  were  6,859  of  them,  but  the  number  dropped  to 
1,001  in  1874,  and  the  flow  was  not  fully  resumed 
until  1885.  No  better  people  than  the  Austrians 
could  be  asked.  They  are  strong,  healthy,  industri- 
ous and  generally  pretty  well  supplied  with  cash. 
The  Hungarians  and  Italians  now  arriving  in  in- 
creased numbers,  are,  as  a  rule,  not  desirable  folks. 
They  are  from  the  poverty-stricken  classes,  and  are 
physically  and  morally  a  hard  lot. 

The  immigration  from  Great  Britain  does  not  vary 
much  from  year  to  year,  but  it  reached  its  climax 
last  year,  with  46,515  new  comers  of  the  highest 
grade,  mostly  farmers.  These  people  are  all  educa- 
ted and  intelligent.  In  order  to  attract  immigration 
to  any  State  or  locality  not  already  settled  in  part 
by  foreign-born  people,  work  must  be  done  in  the 
countries  from  which  the  supply  is  desired.  Agents, 


772  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  course,  must  be  sent  over  or  employed,  though  de- 
scriptive pamphlets  may  capture  a  family  now  and 
then.  Little  or  nothing  can  be  accomplished  at  Cas- 
tle Garden,  except  through  the  Labor  Bureau,  and 
then  a  definite  position  at  stated  wages  must  be  of- 
fered, and  money  to  pay  the  fare  of  the  man  or  wo- 
man engaged  must  be  forwarded.  The  baggage  of 
the  immigrant  is  sent  by  express  to  the  employer  as 
security  for  the  money  advanced. 

During  188G,the  Labor  Bureau,  which  is  maintained 
at  the  expense  of  the  German  Society  and  the  Irish 
Emigrant  Society,  found  employment  for  14,257  im- 
migrants, of  whom  8,345  were  men,  and  5,912  women. 
The  average  monthly  wages  obtained  for  farm  labor- 
ers and  house  servants  were  as  follows : 


Farm  Female 

Months.  Hands.  Servants. 

January  $8  00  $8  00 

February                                                          8  50  8  00 

March                                                               12  00  10  00 

April                                                              14  50  10  00 

May                                                               14  50  10  00 

June                                                              15  00  10  f)0 

July                                                               14  00  10  00 

August                                                         13  00  10  00 

September                                                       12  00  10  00 

October                                                           11  00  9  50 

November                                                       10  00  9  50 

December                                                       9  00  10  00 


One  of  the  most  potent  influences  in  favor  of  the 
Northwest,  in  gaining  immigrants,  has  been  the  en- 
terprise of  the  railroad  companies.  They  have  not 
only  offered  cheap  lands  on  easy  terms,  but  have 
made  it  a  simple  matter  for  the  immigrant  to  take 
his  long  journey.  Frequently  they  carry  settlers 
free.  Not  a  Southern  road  is  regularly  represented 
at  Castle  Garden ;  there  are  few  Northern  roads  that 
are  not,  either  directly  or  through  one  of  the  trunk 
lines. 


Manhattan  Causerie. 


A  TRADE  OF  TERROR. 

It  has  only  been  very  lately  that  New  York  city 
has  become  aware  of  the  fact  that  Italy  is  doing  a 
tremendous  business  in  the  exportation  of  ready-made 
cripples,  and  that  the  chief  objective  point  of  the 
grotesque  and  horrid  freight  is  the  metropolis.  Some 
padrones  have  been  arrested  and  taken  before  the 
lower  police  courts.  In  time,  the  matter  will  attract 
the  attention  of  the  higher  authorities,  and  some 
remedial  legislation,  or  the  vigorous  application  of 
that  existing  at  hand,  may  be  looked  for.  The  reader 
who  has  read  Victor  Hugo's  "L'homme  qui  Eit,"  can 
recall  the  vivid  chapters  in  which  that  master  of  sen- 
sational fiction  described  the  exquisite  tortures  to 
which  children  were  put,  the  merciless  application  of 
the  knife  to  certain  tendons,  in  order  to  produce  the 
desired  effect.  Babies  have  been  put  in  vases  of 
strange  pattern  that  dwarfed  their  growth,  and  made 
them  very  desirable  adjuncts  for  side-shows  the  world 
over.  In  Italy- — land  of  beggars  and  grand  opera — 
this  cripple  business  has  been  going  on  for  centuries. 
Alms-gathering  is  a  science  there.  Professional  beg- 
gars all  die  rich.  But  they  found  out  long  ago  that 
you  must  be  more  than  dirty,  in  order  to  exact  the 
pittance  from  the  purse  of  the  passer-by.  Even  the 
blind  men  got  to  be  a  drug  in  the  market,  and  the 
fellows  with  sores  found  times  hard.  Then  the  bril- 
liant idea  struck  some  one  of  them  of  getting  up 
grotesque  cripples — boys  with  their  left  foot  growing 
back  of  their  right  ear,  and  such  like  vagaries.  It 
was  a  brilliant  success.    No  man  could  refuse  a  coin 


774  Wonders  of  a  Great  Otty. 


to  a  mail  with  his  head  under  his  arm.  The  sight 
was  horrible,  but  fascinating,  and  having  viewed  it, 
the  donation  was  made  on  the  same  principle  that  a 
man  would  pay  to  go  into  a  tent  and  see  the  educated 
pig  eat  pop-corn  and  play  euchre  at  the  same  time. 
There  were  so  many  cripples  turned  out  by  the  cramp- 
ing and  torture  process,  that  Italy  and  all  Europe 
found  itself  plentifully  supplied.  Every  cathedral 
door  was  crowded,  and  the  agencies  in  the  various 
cities  wrote  to  have  all  shipments  stopped.  But  what 
was  to  be  done  with  the  surplus  ?  What  is  done  with 
every  superfluous  bum,  thief,  and  murderer  that 
Europe  spawns?  They  were  shipped  to  America, 
and  they  have  been  coming  into  New  York  at  a  very 
lively  rate.  They  are  being  sent,  too,  to  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore,  and  other  ports  that  have  no  Castle  Gar- 
den, and  thence  they  are  brought  by  rail  to  the  great 
metropolis. 

I  was  introduced,  one  evening,  to  a  room  in  which 
about  twenty  newly-arrived  cripples  were  having 
supper.  I  saw  the  collection  of  fiddles,  violoncellos, 
tambourines,  triangles,  etc.,  belonging  to  those  at 
supper,  and  it  seemed  that  they,  too,  had  been  put 
through  a.  regular  deforming  process.  They  had  an 
air  of  suffering  akin  to  that  stamped  upon  the  faces 
of  their  twisted  players,  and  I  could  understand  how 
the  strains  evoked  from  a  violin  by  a  half -starved 
Italian  boy  always  possesses  the  character  of  a  moan. 

The  trade  in  children  all  comes  from  the  curse  of 
poverty.  Antonio  or  Pellegro  finds  that  the  little 
patch  of  ground  on  the  hillside  back  of  Naples  will 
not  support  him.    His  eldest  daughter,  Angelina, 


Manhattan  Causerie.  775 


eats  too  mucL  In  a  little  wine  shop  lie  meets  an 
agent  of  the  Beggar's  Association  of  New  York,  who 
offers  to  take  Angelina  and  little  Roberto  to  New 
York,  paying  so  much  down  and  signing  a  paper  to 
forward  so  much  more  regularly.  Angelina  and 
little  Roberto  are  brought  to  New  York,  and  as  soon 
as  they  arrive  the  process  of  dwarfing  into  hideous 
ugliness  the  moral  nature  of  the  pretty  black-eyed 
girl  is  begun.  She  cannot  escape  it.  She  is  a  mine 
of  gold,  and  she  is  beaten  and  starved  until  all  her 
finer  qualities  become  dazed,  and  resistance  ceases  at 
last.  At  the  Neapolitan  home  they  cannot  hear  of 
her,  or,  if  anything,  nothing  but  lies.  Money  is  sent 
for  a  while  and  then  it  ceases,  the  padrone  writing 
that  the  children  have  run  away  with  an  organ,  and 
an  $80  monkey.  Some  of  the  children  are  deformed 
in  a  transient  way,  as  it  were.  I  went  into  Matron 
Webb's  Lost  Children  department,  at  the  Central  Po- 
lice office,  once,  and  saw  a  bright  little  Italian  boy 
playing  with  the  other  waifs  present,  and  apparently 
having  a  good  time. 
"Is  he  lost?"  I  asked. 

"Oh,  no,  "was  the  response;  "he's  a  crippled  beg- 
gar.   The  officers  picked  him  up  on  Broadway. " 
"A  cripple?" 
"Yes,  a  deformed  boy." 

I  took  another  look  at  the  bright-eyed  rascal. 
Every  limb  was  perfect ;  every  feature  was  full  of  grace 
and  young  animal  life.  My  wonderment  was  fully 
expressed  on  my  countenance,  and  after  the  good 
matron  had  enjoyed  it  sufficiently,  she  said  to  me  : 

"Turn  your  back  to  him." 


776 


Won  DEBS  OF  a  Ore  at  City. 


I  did  so. 

Then  I  heard   some  whispered  conversation  "be- 
tween her  and  the  hoy.    In  another  instant  she  said : 
"Now  look" 

The  bright-eyed,  active  boy  had  disappeared.  In 
his  stead,  sitting  upon  a  low  stool,  was  a  miserable, 
horrible  little  wretch,  with  both  wrists  and  his  legs 
out  of  joint.  I  cannot  describe  the  repulsive  gro- 
tesqueness  of  his  appearance,  but  if  I  had  been  a 
doctor,  with  a  trunkfull  of  diplomas,  I  would  cer- 
tainly have  considered  the  boy  a  most  remarkable 
specimen  of  permanent  disfigurement.  At  a  sign 
from  the  matron,  and  while  I  was  looking,  he  threw 
himself  into  shape  again,  and  w^as  soon  busy  at  his 
play.  This  kind  of  cripple  is  not  so  objectionable, 
but  it  is  as  much  an  accident  of  osseous  formation  as 
anything  else,  and  I  doubt  if  there  are  many  speci- 
mens in  existence  outside  of  the  circus. 


CHAPTER  XLVIIL 


TALMAGE  AND  THE  TABERNACLE. 

PORTRAIT  OF  THE  POPULAR  BROOKLYN  DIVINE — HIS  CAREER  AND  SUC- 
CESS—THE  NEW  TABERNACLE — THE  NIGHT  SIDE  OP  NEW  YORK — 
TALMAGE's  trial — THE  SENSATIONALIST  ABROAD — TALMAGE  AS  A 
LECTURER. 

A TALL,  bony,  ungainly,  angular,  awkward  man ; 
dark  hair,  red  whiskers,  light  complexion, 
blue  eyes,  a  very  large  mouth,  redeemed  by  a  good 
set  of  teeth  and  a  pleasant  smile  which  lights  up  his 
homely  face,  and  makes  him  positively  good  looking. 
His  laugh  is  hearty  and  exhilarting.  His  face  is 
mobile,  and  he  would  have  made  an  excellent 
actor,  especially  in  farce  and  comedy.  While 
preaching,  his  gesticulation  is  marvelous.  His  long 
arms  swing  like  the  sails  of  a  windmill,  and  he 
uses  arms,  hands,  head,  and  body  to  enforce, 
emphasize,  and  illustrate  what  he  is  saying.  As 
a  preacher,  he  is  original,  odd,  fluent,  eloquent,  with 
a  good  command  of  language  which  in  expression 
savors  something  of  the  twang  and  vernacular  of  the 
Yankee.  Like  Beecher,  he  sometimes  suddenly  des- 
cends from  the  solemn  and  sublime  to  the  humorous 
and  ridiculous.  He  uses  common  illustrations; 
employs  sarcasm  and  irony  very  effectively;  and 
moves  his  hearers  by  turns  to  tears  and  smiles.  He 


778 


Wonders  of  a  Gee  at  City. 


is  independent  and  outspoKen,  yet  tender  and  sympa- 
thetic. There  are  various  opinions  of  his  powers  as  a 
preacher ;  his  enemies  call  him  a  sensationalist  and  a 
buffoon ;  his  friends  claim  that  no  other  preacher  has 
greater  control  over  the  feelings  of  his  audience. 

HIS  CAREER  AND  SUCCESS. 

Thomas  DeWitt  Talmage  was  born  at  Boundbrook, 
N.  J.,  January  7,  1832.  He  was  graduated  at  the 
New  York  University  in  1853,  and  at  the  New  Bruns- 
wick Theological  Seminary  in  1856.  lie  was  pastor 
of  Dutch  Reformed  churches  at  Bellville,  N.  J.,  Syra- 
cuse, N.  Y.,  and  at  Philadelphia,  till  1869,  when  he 
was  called  to  the  Central  Presbyterian  church  in 
Brooklyn.  He  came  unheralded,  almost  unknown, 
and  within  a  year  he  was  admitted  to  be  Beecher's 
only  rival.  His  church  was  crowded,  the  pews  com- 
manded high  rents,  and  his  salary  was  advanced  to 
$7,000.  In  1870,  his  congregation  built  a  great  wood 
and  iron  amphitheatre  which  was  called  the  Brooklyn 
Tabernacle.  It  would  seat  3,400  people,  and,  the 
next  year,  it  was  enlarged  to  hold  500  more.  The 
immense  organ  used  in  the  Boston  Coliseum  during 
the  Musical  Peace  Jubilee,  in  lS6d,  was  bought  and 
brought  to  the  Brooklyn  Tabernacle.  This  and  other 
attractions  increased  the  audiences.  Just  before  ser- 
vice on  Sunday,  December  22,  1872,  the  Tabernacle 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  Then  Talmage  took  the  Aca- 
demy of  Music,  and  preached  to  larger  congregations 
than  ever,  crowds  going  over  every  Sunday  from  New 
York  city  to  hear  him. 


Talmage  and  the  Tabernacle. 


779 


THE  NEW  TABERNACLE. 

Meanwhile  his  admirers  built  a  new  Tabernacle  of 
brick,  in  Gothic  style,  but  retaining  the  semi-circu- 
lar form,  and  capable  of  seating  5,000  persons.  It  is 
the  largest  Protestant  place  of  worship  in  the  United 
States.  On  February  22,  1874,  it  was  dedicated,  and 
on  the  following  Sunday  328  new  members  were 
admitted.  The  services  are  made  attractive  by  the 
fine  organ  played  by  a  distinguished  performer,  and 
a  celebrated  cornetist  leads  the  congregational  sing- 
ing. The  Tabernacle  has  a  reading  room,  a  large 
room  for  social  gatherings,  and  it  is  also  used  by  the 
Free  Lay  College,  an  institution  established  by  Mr. 
Talmage  for  the  instruction  of  persons  of  all  denomi- 
nations in  the  lay  ministry,  an  1  which  has  had  at  once 
as  many  as  600  students  with  more  than  thirty  preach- 
ing stations  in  New  York,  Brooklyn,  and  other  cities. 
The  Tabernacle  was  designed  to  be  free,  and  to  be 
supported  by  the  contributions  of  the  congregation, 
who  had  the  preference  of  seats,  while  the  numerous 
outsiders  must  wait  till  the  services  begin  before  they 
can  be  accommodated  by  the  ushers  with  places. 

THE  NIGHT  SIDE  OF  NEW  YORK. 

Mr.  Talmage  never  objected  to  be  called  a  sensa- 
tionalist, always  declaring  that  preaching  that  was  not 
sensational  was  good  for  nothing.  Under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  police  he  visited  the  slums  of  the  city,  the 
dens  of  dissipation,  the  high  and  low  gambling  places, 
dance  halls,  houses  of  prostitution,  drinking  saloons, 
tenement  houses  and  all  the  haunts  of  vice  and  misery 


780  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

from  the  highest  to  the  lowest.  He  did  this  for  the 
express  purpose  of  presenting  to  his  congregation  in 
his  own  vivid  way  a  photograph  of  what  he  aptly 
called  "The  Night  Side  of  New  York."  The  several 
Sundays  devoted  to  this  exposure  were  the  sensations 
of  the  season.  K,ei<pectable  men  and  women  thronged 
to  learn  how  the  disreputable  and  dissolute  act  and 
live.  Virtuous  young  women  flocked  to  hear  about 
their  fallen  sisters.  The  daily  journals  gave  extended 
reports  for  the  benefit  of  the  thousands  who  could  not 
get  near,  much  less  inside  the  Tabernacle.  The 
preacher  was  severely  censured  by  many  editors, 
especially  of  the  religious  press,  who  said  that  he  only 
aimed  at  the  sensational,  and  was  pandering  to  the 
curiosity  of  prurient  people.  But.  Talmage  justified 
himself  by  declaring  that  he  was  only  uttering  warn- 
ings, showing  the  worst  side  of  the  city  so  that  his 
hearers  would  take  heed  and  shun  it,  and  expressing 
the  belief  that  his  descriptions  would  no  more  induce 
people  to  go  and  see  for  themselves  than  a  vivid  ac- 
count of  the  ravages  of  the  yellow  fever  would  prompt 
people  to  go  to  the  South  to  get  the  pestilence.  All 
that  he  does  and  says  is  sensational,  even  to  the  titles 
of  his  books,  such  as  Old  Wells  Dug  Out,"  ^'  Sports 
that  Kill,"  and  "Abominations  of  Society.'' 

talmage's  trial. 

There  was  a  brief  "  night  side  "  to  the  career  of  this 
prominent  preacher  in  1879,  when  he  was  tried  by  the 
Brooklyn  Presbytery  upon  charges  of  dishonest  deal- 
ings in  the  publication  of  his  newspaper,  The  Chris- 
tian at  Work,  and  of  uttering  falsehoods  in  saying 


Talmage  and  the  Tabernacle. 


781 


repeatedly  that  the  pews  in  the  Tabernacle  were  en 
tirely  free,  when  he  knew^  that  I  he  best  sittings  were 
sold  at  a  good  round  price.    But  he  came  triumph- 
antly out  of  the  trial,  and  almost  immediately  set  sail 
for  a  short  vacation  visit  across  the  Atlantic. 

THE    SENSATIONALIST  ABROAD. 

He  sailed  in  the  Gallia,  which  he  described  as  "  the 
Queen  of  the  Cunarders/'  and  on  arriving  at  Queens- 
town,  while  he  w^as  in  bed  in  his  stateroom,  he  was 
cordially  welcomed  to  England  by  delegations  from 
London,  Leeds,  and  Dublin.  His  progress  through 
different  cities  and  towns  in  Great  Britain  was  a  tri- 
umph. Thousands  flocked  to  hear  him  lecture,  and 
he  received  from  £120  to  £130  per  night  with  all 
expenses  paid,  and  $600  or  so  for  an  hours'  talk,  is 
more  than  many  of  his  American  clerical  brethren  get 
for  a  whole  year's  preaching  and  hard  work.  He  also 
put  much  money  in  his  pocket  by  contributing  papers 
entitled  "  Great  Britain  through  American  Spectacles  " 
to  a  New  York  weekly.  Some  of  the  English  journals 
imderrated  the  American  parson  who  "  was  starring 
about  the  country  un  !er  patronage  of  various  pious 
lords  and  ladies,''  but  Talmage  quietly  filled  his  valise 
with  guineas,  accepted  the  adulations  and  attentions, 
ate  the  good  dinners,  saw  all  the  sights,  and  greatly 
enjoyed  himself  What  the  papers  said  about  him  did 
not  concern  him,  and  a  particularly  severe  article  of 
the  Saturday  Review  he  described  as  "  comparable 
only  to  a  little  dog  baying  at  the  moon — it  pleased  the 
dog  and  did  the  moon  no  harm." 


782 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


TALMAGE  AS  A  LECTURER. 

In  this  country,  Mr.  Talmao-e  was  never  so  much  a 
force  in  the  lecture  field,  never  such  a  drawing  card 
as  Mr.  Beecher.  His  reputation  belongs  to  the  pulpit 
rather  than  the  platform,  though,  strictly  speaking, 
the  Tabernacle  is  devoid  of  that  piece  of  furniture 
called  a  pulpit,  and  the  sermons  are  spoken,  and  some- 
times literally  acted  on  the  stage.  But  as  a  lecturer, 
Talmage's  eloquence,  irony,  vivid  illustrations,  and 
the  very  oddity  of  his  manner  as  well  as  matter, 
always  satisfied  his  audiences,  and  sent  them  home  in 
good  humor.  In  private  life,  at  home  and  with  his 
friends,  always  amiable,  cheerful,  calm,  and  self  reli- 
ant— these  characteristics  complete  the  portrait  of  the 
celebrated  and  sensational  preacher  of  the  Brooklyn 
Tabernacle. 

During  his  brief  stay  in  Great  Britain,  however, 
Talmage  completely  reversed  his  reputation  as  a  public 
speaker,  and  was  much  more  esteemed  as  a  lecturer 
than  as  a  preacher.  In  the  latter  field  he  came  in 
direct  competition  with  the  celebrated  Spurgeon,  of 
whom,  in  his  best  efforts,  Talmage  seemed  only  an 
imitator  in  both  manner  and  matter.  In  truth,  in  the 
pulpit,  Talmage  might  be  called  the  American  Spur- 
geon, and  Spurgeon  the  English  Talmage ;  but  to 
English  audiences  Talmage  as  a  lecturer  was  unique, 
and  during  his  three  months'  stay  abroad  he  is  believed 
to  have  netted  £10,000. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 
NEW  YORK  IN  SUMMER. 


HOW  THE  TIRED  AND  HEATED  MAY  FERRET  OUT  COOL  SPOTS— DELICIOUS 
GLEN  ISLAND — LONG  BRANCH  AND  ROCKAWAY — CONEY  ISLAND  DOWN 
THE  BAY — SOME  OF  THE  AMERICAN  BRIGHTON'S  ATTRACTIONS. 

THAT  New  York  is  a  hot  place  in  summer,  no 
one  can  deny,  but  even  the  poor  can  find  it 
cooler,  for  charitable  people  send  the  little  ones  of 
poor  parents  to  the  country  for  one  or  two  weeks'  stay, 
and  the  Fresh  Air  Fund  take  mothers  and  children 
out  every  day  on  a  barge.  The  high  buildings  shade 
the  streets  except  at  noon,  cooling  drinks  are  sold  on 
the  sidewalk,  at  from  one  to  ten  cents  a  glass,  and 
ice  water  is  provided  free  by  the  authorities.  As  to 
])arks,  the  city  is  well  provided,  commencing  with 
the  Battery,  we  come  to  City  Hall  Park,  a  well  kept 
grassy  place,  with  fine  trees,  and  a  fountain,  the  seats 
are  always  filled,  order  prevails,  and  so  on  to  the 
parks  scattered  all  through  the  city,  until  Central 
Park  is  reached ;  here  boating,  riding,  lounging,  visit- 
ing menageries.  Museum  of  Art,  a  building  worth 
visiting.  On  Saturdays  and  Sundays,  families  will 
be  seen  with  well  filled  baskets,  sitting  down  and  en- 
joying the  sights  and  sounds  that  can  be  found  in 
this  beautiful  park.  Eiverside  Park,  on  the  North 
River,  is  also  a  pretty  place  of  resort,  especially  since 


784  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


the  remains  of  General  Grant  repose  there.  The  rich 
go  to  their  country  homes,  scattered  all  over  on  the 
Hudson,  in  New  England,  New  Jersey,  Staten  Island, 
Long  Branch,  Long  Beach  on  Long  Island,  Sara- 
toga, Newport,  etc.  Those  who  have  but  the  one  day 
can  visit  Coney  Island,  Rockaway,  where  the  largest 
billows  come  in,  and  every  style  of  amusement  can 
be  found.  Staten  Island,  which,  since  the  Staten 
Island  Improvement  Company  have  taken  it  in  hand, 
is  like  some  picture.  St.  George,  here  situated,  has  an 
electrical  fountain,  which  throws  its  jets  so  as  to  be 
seen  at  Fort  Hamilton.  To  get  to  St.  George,  take 
the  boat  at  the  Battery,  and  after  a  short  sail  you 
arrive  at  the  place ;  should  a  wish  to  see  the  Wild 
West  show  at  Eractina  urge  you  on,  change  into  the 
cars  Avithout  extra  expense  ;  the  fare  is  ten  cencs.  Fort 
Hamilton,  near  Bay  Ridge,  is  fast  encroaching  on 
Coney  Island,  as  this  year  a  hotel,  six  stories  in 
height  was  erected,  and  is  now  well  filled  with  guests. 
From  its  broad  piazzas,  as  fine  a  view  as  any  seaside 
resort  can  boast  of,  the  Rockaway  boats  pass  there, 
also  the  Iron  Steam  boats  for  Coney  Island,  fishing, 
boating,  yachting,  driving,  etc.,  give  amusement  to 
either  permanent  or  transient  guests.  This  hotel  is 
reached  by  boat  from  New  York,  or  the  Court  street 
and  Third  avenue  line  of  horse  cars,  from  Fulton 
Ferr}:,  Brooklyn.  So  it  will  be  seen  that  a  stranger 
can  find  out  where  New  Yorkers  go  in  the  summer. 

GLET^"  ISLAND. 

Of  all  lovely  places,  easy  of  access,  and  at  a  mod- 
erate cost,  is  Glen  Island.    Speaking  correctly,  there 


New  York  in  Summer. 


785 


are  five  islands  connected  by  bridges,  all  forming  the 
island.  At  Cortlandt  street,  Ave  go  on  one  of  four 
fine  steamers,  "Sam  Sloan,"  holding  1,800  passengers; 
the  "Matteawan,"  1,600;  the  "Castleton,"  or  "Myn- 
heer Starin,"  each  of  1,200  capacity.  Having  elec- 
tric lights,  they  are  as  bright  as  sunlight,  even  on  the 
darkest  night.  After  passing  the  new  pier,  and 
barge  ofiice,  we  come  to  Brooklyn  Bridge,  the  most 
wonderful  piece  of  engineering  ever  seen.  On  still 
farther,  and  Blackwell's,  Randall's,  and  Ward's 
islands  come  before  us.  We  next  are  at  Hell  Gate, 
which  a  large  electric  light  serves  to  make  visible 
every  night.  Now  the  river  has  widened  into  a  bay, 
the  water  is  bluer,  and  Long  Island  Sound  is  before 
us  like  the  ocean.  On  our  left  is  Fort  Schuyler,  on 
our  right,  Willett's  Point.  And  at  last  Glen  Island 
tower  appears  before  us,  its  chime  of  bells  ringing  a 
sweet  welcome.  Green  lawns  slope  to  the  water's 
edge,  large  trees  woo  us  to  their  shade,  pretty  summer- 
houses,  a  grand  cafe  and  pavilion,  form  a  picture  that 
must  win  admiration.  We  see  policemen  in  uniform, 
but  they  seem  to  have  nothing  to  do,  for  all  is  quiet, 
and  no  rough  characters  come  here,  for  they  know 
they  could  not  stay.  Each  visitor  seems  to  take  pride 
in  keeping  up  the  name  of  respectability  that  the 
island  has  won.  Every  country  seems  to  have  sent 
contributions,  for  the  trees  speak  of  all  nations; 
fountains,  flowers,  and  statuary,  all  add  to  the  en- 
chantment of  the  place.  Should  refreshments  be 
needed,  the  Grand  cafe  can  supply  all  wants,  while 
the  David  Island  band  of  forty  pieces  will  delight 
the  ear,  or  a  visit  to  the  elegantly  furnished  parlors 


786 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


give  from  the  window  a  view  of  natural  scenery  that 
cannot  be  excelled.  Should  you  be  a  lover  of  clams, 
pass  to  the  Glen  Island  dining  liall,  and  you  can  be 
served  with  a  genuine  Rhode  Island  clam-bake,  but 
no  account  can  take  the  place  of  eating  tliis  dish. 

Again,  should  you  have  children,  why  not  take  a 
well  tilled  basket,  and,  going  over  a  rustic  ])ridge  to 
Beach  lawn,  you  will  tind  tables,  chairs,  all  free,  and, 
getting  tea,  cofEee,  milk,  and  other  things,  at  a  slight 
cost,  have  a  picnic.  Returning  to  the  mainland,  you 
can  sib  in  the  Grand  j)avilion,  which  seats  4,000,  and 
listen  to  the  Seventy  first  Regiment  band,  whicli  gives 
two  grand  concerts  a  day.  Here  also  can  be  had  eat- 
ables and  drinkables — in  fact,  no  one  need  go  hungry, 
so  ])ountif  ully,  and,  what  is  more  to  the  purpose,  reason- 
ably, provided  is  ever3^thing  at  this  resort.  A  dairy, 
menagerie  with  happy  family,  baby  tiger  and  buffalo, 
both  born  lately,  and  many  other  animals,  all  for  the 
little  ones  to  admire  and  pet.  Now  we  go  to  the 
place,  Klein  Deutschland,  Little  Germany.  This  place, 
once  a  barren  rock,  is  now  a  cultivated  spot  of  over 
two  acres  and  a-half.  A  ruined  tower,  almost  covered 
with  ivy,  a  fac-simile  of  ruins  on  the  Rhineo  This 
is  fatherland,  indeed ;  a  cottage  like  one  in  Frankfort 
adds  to  the  scene.  German  everywhere;  waiters, 
table  linen,  and  food,  all  speak  of  Deutschland. 
Zither  players,  up  in  a  tower,  give  national  airs,  and 
it  is  with  reluctance  we  leave  to  see  the  rest  of  the 
island.  Those  who  enjoy  the  water,  can  pass  happy 
moments  in  sail  or  row  boats,  or  one  of  the  six  fine 
steam  launches,  which  will,  for  ten  cents,  take  you 
all  round  the  island.    As  the  sun  goes  down,  casting 


New  York  in  Summer, 


787 


a  rosy  glow  over  everything,  voices  are  hushed,  for 
all  is  so  still ;  the  electric  lights  flash  out  like  stars, 
and  soon,  though  darkness  comes  around  us,  the  island 
becomes  as  bright  as  noonday.  Cheerful  voices  min- 
gle with  the  strains  of  music,  and  to  many  worldly, 
weary  hearts,  the  day  has  passed  on  wings,  and  child- 
hood's dreams  of  fairyland  seem  to  be  realized. 

And  now  we  must  leave;  but  oh!  how  we  linger^ 
casting,  like  Lot's  wife,  longing  glances  behind  at 
charming  Glen  Island. 

LONG  BKANCH  AND  EOCKAWAY. 

When  President  Grant,  by  several  successive  sea- 
sons' residence,  made  Long  Branch  the  "  summer 
capital  "  of  the  United  States,  and  the  place  was  an- 
nually thronged  by  office-seekers,  contractors,  poli- 
ticians, and  all  who  had  or  wanted  something  to  do 
with  the  government,  that  favorite  resort  saw  its 
most  fashionable  and  most  mone^^-making  days.  The 
charming  cottages,  most  of  them  owned  by  New 
Yorkers  and  Philadelphians,  were  crowded  with  com- 
pany through  the  season,  the  many  fine  and  large 
hotels  were  thronged  with  guests,  and  all  summer 
long  it  was  a  scene  of  festivity  and  fashion,  surpassed 
only  on  the  Atlantic  coast  by  Newport.  Those  days 
have  gone  by.  Coney  Island  is  now  the  formidable 
rival  of  Long  Branch,  and  the  latter  has  been  com- 
pelled to  increase  its  attractions  by  building  an  iron  * 
pier  out  into  the  sea,  at  which  steamers  can  land  di- 
rectly from  the  city,  and  go  and  return  with  excur- 
sionists in  a  single  day.  New  and  comparatively 
cheap  restaurants  have  been  opened  for  these  tern- 


788 


WONDEBS  OF  A  OeEaT  OiTY. 


porary  visitors,  new  bathing  houses,  and  lower  fares, 
both  by  rail  and  by  boat,  to  draw  customers.  The 
old  patrons,  who  wish  to  stay  by  the  week  or  the 
month,  still  fill  the  fashionable  hotels,  and  the  owners 
of  cottages  yet  believe  that  Long  Branch  is  the  finest 
sea-side  resort  on  the  American  shores.  It  is  greatly 
frequented,  too,  by  foreigners  who  have  heard  for 
years  of  the  splendors  of  Newport,  and  Long  Branch, 
and  Saratoga,  and  think  these  the  only  watering 
places  in  this  country. 

Rockaway  and  Far  Rockaway  beyond,  are  among 
the  oldest  and  most  favorite  sea-side  resorts  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York.  Numerous  steamboats  ply 
to  Rockaway  at  almost  any  hour  during  the  day  in 
summer,  and  as  most  of  the  visitors  go  and  return  the 
same  day,  the  hotel  accommodations  for  permanent 
guests  are  not  extensive.  But  there  are  numerous 
pavilions  and  restaurants,  lager-beer  and  other  stimu- 
lants without  stint,  boating  and  fishing  facilities,  and 
the  means  for  bathing  are  abundant.  It  is  a  great 
resort  for  people  who  want,  and  can  there  get,  a  good 
deal  of  enjoyment  for  a  little  money. 

CONEY  ISLAND. 

Only  eleven  miles  by  sea  from  the  city,  and  hourly 
and  easily  reached  by  numerous  lines  of  first-class 
steamboats,  is  Coney  Island,  which  is  now  by  far  the 
finest  sea-side  resort  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  is  one 
of  the  best  in  the  whole  world.  A  very  few  years 
ago  this  strip  of  land,  two  miles  long,  with  an 
average  width  of  half  a  mile,  was  a  by- word  and  a 
disgrace  to  civilization.    The  two  or  three  wretched 


JSfEW  York  in  Summer. 


789 


taverns,  and  the  sheds  and  shanties  called  "pavilions," 
were  the  resorts,  in  summer,  of  the  worst  characters 
of  both  sexes  from  the  city,  and  unsuspecting  and 
verdant  strangers,  who  went  or  were  enticed  down  on 
the  miserable  and  crowded  boats,  were  fleeced  by 
gamblers,  robbed  by  pickpockets,  swindled  by  male 
and  female  sharpers,  and  generally  fared  as  badly  as 
the  man  who  went  down  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho 
and  fell  among  thieves. 

In  1874,  men  of  means  and  enterprise  in  New  York 
saw  the  real  advantages  of  this  spot — its  nearness  to 
the  city,  and  its  unsurpassed  advantages  for  a  sea- 
side and  bathing  resort,  with  its  beautiful  beach  of 
hard,  white,  smooth  sand,  and  splendid  surf.  Com- 
panies were  formed,  capital  was  subscribed,  railway 
lines  from  Brooklyn  were  built  and  opened,  land  for 
hotels,  pavilions,  and  amphitheatres  was  bought  and 
leased,  iron  and  wood  piers  were  thrown  out  into  the 
sea,  steamboat  lines  were  started,  touching  at  differ- 
ent points  in  the  city,  and  carrying  passengers  every 
hour,  extensive  bathing  houses  were  built,  bands  with 
eminent  solo  performers  were  employed — in  short, 
every  possible  attraction  was  provided  to  make  the 
island  a  resort  for  respectable  people.  In  less 
than  five  years,  the  desert  waste  was  converted  into 
a  magnificent  pleasure  ground.  With  other  and  many 
means  of  conveyance,  omnibuses  and  railways  from 
one  point  to  another  on  the  shore,  there  are  beautiful 
drives,  and  one  from  Prospect  Park,  Brooklyn,  direct 
to  the  sea,  level,  smooth,  fifty  yards  wide,  and  five 
miles  long,  is  one  of  the  finest  avenues  in  the  country. 
Nothing  short  of  magic,  or  millions  of  money,  could 


790  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

have  converted  this  waste,  in  so  short  a  time,  into  a 
very  garden.  The  sand  was  covered  with  soil  brought 
from  the  main-land,  and  the  soil  was  carpeted  with 
turf.  Trees  were  planted,  patches  of  beautiful 
flowers  set  in  the  sward,  fountains  were  erected,  and 
everything  done  to  beautify  the  splendid  domain. 
The  two  beaches,  Brighton  and  Manhattan  at  the  east 
end,  and  Coney  Island,  or  Norton's,  and  West  Brigh- 
ton Beach,  make  up  the  four  subdivisions  of  the  island, 
each  having  its  own  patrons  and  place  in  popular 
estimation,  though  the  visitor  for  the  day  has  time 
to  go  to  all  of  them  and  enjoy  the  peculiar  pleasures 
of  eacli.  In  the  fifth  year  after  the  redemption  and 
reopening  of  this  now  famous  resort  to  respectable 
people,  there  were  no  less  than  twenty-one  fine  hotels, 
six  of  them  equal  to  the  best  seaside  hotels  in  this 
country,  and  two  of  them  ranking  among  the  largest 
hotel  structures  in  the  world.  Besides  these,  more 
than  fifty  pavilions  could  accommodate  20,000  people 
at  a  time.  Some  idea  of  the  immensity  of  the  differ- 
ent establishments  can  be  formed  from  the  statements, 
that  at  some  of  the  hotels,  more  than  4,000  persons 
can  dine  at  once  ;  the  bathing  establishments  have  as 
many  as  2,000  separate  rooms  furnished  with  gas  and 
running  fresh  water;  the  amphitheatres,  with  a  full 
view  of  the  sea  and  the  bathers,  accommodate  thou- 
sands ;  there  are  seats  for  thousands  more  in  front  of 
the  music  stands ;  and  there  is  unlimited  room,  and 
abundant  accommodation  for  any  number  of  visitors, 
who  count  up  on  some  days  as  high  as  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand. 

The  attractions  are  almost  numberless.    The  iron 


New  York  in  Summer. 


791 


observatory,  with  steam  elevators,  was  transported 
from  tlie  Centennial  Exhibition  grounds  at  Philadel- 
phia, and  from  the  top  it  affords  a  fine  view  of  New 
York  and  the  surrounding  country,  the  Bay,  the  near 
by  shores  and  islands,  and  far  out  at  sea.  The  great 
iron  pier,  the  first  built,  is  1,000  feet  long,  and  with 
its  restaurants,  bathing  establishments,  saloons,  and 
fine  music,  is  crowded  with  visitors  through  the  day 
and  evening.  The  electric  lights  illuminate  the 
whole  beach  in  front  of  the  principal  hotels  and  pa- 
vilions, so  that  bathing  is  as  safe  by  night  as  by  day, 
and  the  shore,  all  ablaze  with  light,  as  viewed  from 
the  sea,  when  the  tourist  returns  by  boat  in  the  even- 
ing, is  a  scene  of  surpassing  splendor.  One  thing  is 
especially  noticeable,  that  on  this  spot,  once  famous 
only  for  scenes  of  rowdyism  and  violence,  care  is  now 
especially  taken  to  provide  every  safeguard  for  the 
protection  as  well  as  comfoii;  of  visitors.  The  bath- 
ing establishments  give  actually  "safe-deposit"  secur- 
ity for  all  valuables  left  in  their  care.  The  beaches, 
which  are  wholly  devoid  of  the  treacherous  under- 
tow, have  ropes,  buoys,  and  life-boats  in  the  surf, 
with  exi^ert  boatmen  ready  to  render  assistance  at  a 
moment's  warning.  Policemen  are  few  and  far  be- 
tween, and  their  only  use  is  to  direct  strangers  Avho 
may  ask  the  way  to  points  of  interest,  for  there  are 
no  disreputable  or  dissolute  people  to  look  after,  and 
the  resort  is  eminently  for  the  refined  and  respectable, 
and  for  them  only.  The  stranger  in  New  York  can 
spend  a  summer's  day  no  where  more  satisfactorily, 
or  with  more  genuine  enjoyment^  than  at  Coney 
Island. 


792 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


Among  the  many  advantages  secured,  not  only  to 
the  city,  but  to  the  whole  country,  by  the  re-discov- 
ery and  redemption  of  Coney  Island,  is  the  immense 
improvement  manifest  in  all  the  seaside  resorts  on 
the  Atlantic  Coast.  Coney  Island  fixed  the  high 
standard,  and  other  places  must  come  up  to  it  to  se- 
cure favor  or  patronage  from  those  who  demand  the 
best,  and  want  the  full  w^orth  of  their  money. 


CHAPTER  L. 


THE  ELEVATED  RAILWAYS. 


RAPID  TRANSIT  —  THE  METROPOLITAN  ELEVATED  RAILWAYS— HOW  THE 
ROADS  ARE  CONSTRUCTED — THE  STATIONS  AND  EQUIPMENTS — UPPER 
NEW  YORK— IMMENSE  ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  ROADS  TO  THE  CITY. 


OR  years  and  years,  the  New  York  newspapers, 


I  merchants,  bankers,  brokers,  and  people  gener- 
ally, who  lived  up  town  and  did  business  down  town, 
discussed  all  sorts  of  plans  for  securing  more  rapid 
transit  than  omnibuses  or  the  street  railways  afforded 
from  one  end  of  theisland  to  the  other.  Underground 
roads  for  steam  propelled  cars  were  projected,  and 
one  was  actually  tunnelled  for  a  short  distance  under 
Broadway.  At  last  it  was  discovered  that  the  best 
present  and  most  practicable  means  of  travel  was 
above,  rather  than  on,  or  even  under  the  street,  and, 
this  determined,  the  great  boon  of  rapid  transit  w^as 
soon  secured.  It  would  have  cost  millions  to  remove 
sewers  and  gas  and  water  pipes,  or  to  change  their  di- 
rection, and  millions  more  to  secure  the  right  of  way 
under  foundations,  blocks,  and  buildings  for  an  un- 
derground road.  Such  a  scheme  was  impracticable, 
if  not  impossible. 


794 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


THE  ]\[ETROPOLITAN  ELEVATED  RAILWAYS. 

The  first  of  the  new  roads  from  the  Battery  to 
Central  Park  and  beyond,  was  opened  June  5,  1878, 
and  on  the  first  day  25,000  persons  availed  themselves 
of  this  novel  means  of  travel.  Running  through  some 
of  the  side  streets  on  the  west  side  of  the  city  till  it 
reached  the  broad  Sixth  avenue,  thence  to  Central 
Park,  five  miles  from  the  starting  point,  it  was  pushed 
as  rapidly  as  it  could  be  built  to  the  Harlem  river. 
Very  soon  afterwards,  the  same  corporation  built 
another  road  on  the  east  side  of  the  city,  also  extend- 
ing from  the  Battery,  till  it  reached  the  Bowery,  and 
then  through  Third  avenue  to  Harlem.  And  as  soon 
as  the  immense  advantage  of  these  up-in-the-air  roiuis 
was  seen,  still  other  branches  shot  upward,  till  now 
the  main  thoroughfares  are  fairly  gridironed  with 
these  elevated  iron  roads.  It  is  as  if  the  lower  part 
of  the  city  were  the  palm  of  a  great  hand  with  gigan- 
tic iron  fingers  stretched  out  to  grasp  Westchester 
county. 

now  THE  ROADS  ARE  CONSTRUCTED. 

The  pillars  which  support  the  roads  are  rolled  iron, 
set  deep  in  the  ground  beyond  the  reach  of  displace- 
ment by  frost,  and  all  the  supports  and  girders,  though 
seemingly  light  and  frail,  are  secure  and  substantial. 
Where  the  streets  are  narrow,  the  roadway  is  bridged 
across  by  girders  from  side  to  side;  in  the  broad 
Bowery  the  tracks  are  carried  on  rows  of  pillars  close 
to  the  curb  on  each  side  of  the  street;  and  in  Tliird 
and  Sixth  avenues  they  ]-est  on  columns  at  each  side 
of  the  surface  railroads,  and  are  bridged  at  the  top 


The  Elevated  Bailways. 


795 


by  iron  girders.  The  roads  are  not  ornamental  to  the 
city.  They  spoil  the  fronts  of  many  fine  buildings. 
They  destroy  the  priv^acy  of  second  floor  tenements 
past  which  they  run.  The  smoke  bloANai  into  the 
windows,  and  the  ashes,  water  and  oil  dropped  into 
the  street,  and  in  some  places  on  the  sidewalks,  occa- 
sion much  complaint;  they  darken  some  stores  and 
places  of  business,  particularly  at  the  corners  where 
the  stations  and  stairways  to  the -same  are  erected; 
the  noise  of  the  ears  is  a  nuisance  ;  and  the  companies 
pay  nothing  for  real  or  assumed  damages  to  private 
property,  and  not  a  dollar  to  the  city  for  the  privilege 
of  using  and  running  over  the  most  public  thorough- 
fares. But  the  advantages  in  rapid  transit,  in  the  in- 
creased value  of  up-town  property,  and  the  constantly 
increasing  trade  and  population,  by  bringing  back 
thousands  who  have  been  forced  to  live  out  of  the 
city,  but  who  now  find  tenements  at  reasonable  rents 
on  the  upper  end  of  the  island,  more  than  compen- 
sate for  all  the  real  or  imaginary  damage  these  roads 
have  done  to  individuals  or  the  city. 

STATIONS  AND  EQUIPMENTS. 

The  stations  on  these  roads  occur  at  frequent  inter- 
vals, so  that  houses  can  be  reached  within  a  block  or 
two  almost  anywhere,  and  the  routes  are  available 
for  short  as  well  as  long  distances.  The  cars  are  su- 
perbly furnished  with  spring cushionseats handsomely 
upholstered,  and  ranged  on  each  side  of  the  length  of 
the  car,  so  as  to  give  a  wide  passage  through  the  mid- 
dle for  entrance  and  exit.  Nicely  carpeted  floors, 
plate  glass  windows  with  adjustable  blinds,  and  neat 


796 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


ornamentatiou  throughout,  make  the  cars  attractive 
to  passengers,  and  the  absolute  security  for  the  safety 
of  the  traveler  renders  accidents  of  any  kind  very 
rare.  Nervous  people  may  fear  that  the  cars  might 
run  oft'  the  track  and  tumble  down  into  the  street ; 
but  there  are  sure  safeguards  against  that  or  any  acci- 
dent that  might  occur  from  a  broken  axle  or  wheel. 
Millions  of  people  securely  travel  every  year  over 
these  elevated  roads,  which  combine  safety  Math 
speed.  The  trains  run  between  the  stations  at  the 
rate  of  thirty  miles  an  hour,  and  for  the  whole  dis- 
tance, making  all  the  stops  to  let  ofE  and  take  on 
passengers,  at  the  rate  of  sixteen  miles  an  hour.  All 
the  principal  elevated  railway  companies  are  consoli- 
dated in  one  corporation. 

UPPER  NEW  YORK. 

The  greatest  advantage  to  the  city  by  the  opening 
of  the  elevated  roads,  was  the  almost  immediately  in: 
creased  value  of  real  estate  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
island.  In  the  first  year  after  the  trains  began  to  run, 
more  than  500  houses  were  built  above  Fiftieth 
street,  full  400  of  them  being  second-class  houses,  at 
reasonable  rents,  for  the  small-salaried  and  working 
classes  who,  hitherto,  had  been  compelled  to  find 
cheap  homes  on  Long  Island,  in  Nevv^  Jersey,  or  else- 
where in  the  country.  To  these,  the  saving  in  time 
alone,  in  going  and  coming  to  and  from  their  houses 
to  their  work  or  places  of  business,  is  an  immense  ad- 
vantage. The  city  population  has  been  increased  by 
thousands  by  bringing  back  these  people.  Trade  of 
all  sorts  which  goes  to  feed,  furnish,  and  supply 


The  Elevated  Railways, 


797 


these  families  with  the  daily  necessaries  of  life  is 
proportionally  benefited.  The  immense  advantage  in 
real  estate  has  not  only  enriched  individuals,  but  has 
added  to  the  revenues  of  the  city ;  and  the  extensive 
building  enterprises,  which  will  go  on  till  all  the 
vacant  spaces  are  covered  with  streets  and  houses, 
give  employment  to  thousands  of  mechanics  and  day- 
laborers.  The  large  slice  of  Westchester  county 
recently  comprised  within  the  city  limits,  became 
immediately  valuable  by  means  of  rapid  conveyance 
thereto,  and  the  elevated  railways  have  added  incal- 
culably to  the  growth  and  wealth  of  the  city,  and  to 
the  convenience  and  comfort  of  the  people.  The 
whole  upper  part  of  the  city  is  now  as  accessible  to 
the  citizen  or  the  stranger,  as  Union  Square  used  to 
be,  when  the  only  means  of  transit  were  the  street 
cars  and  omnibuses. 

One  curious  effect  of  these  roads  upon  certain 
kinds  of  retail  trade,  was  noticed  within  a  year  after 
their  opening.  Men  who  had  moved  their  stores  and 
shops  from  down-town,  found  that  either  they  had 
not  moved  up  far  enough,  or  that  they  had  better 
move  back  again  to  tlieir  old  locations.  Business 
men  do  not  stop  to  make  retail  purchases  on  their 
way  home,  as  heretofore.  Either  they  buy  at  shops 
near  their  own  places  of  business,  or  wait  until  the 
cars  take  them  to  places  near  their  homes.  Hence  book, 
picture,  and  similar  stores  flourish  in  Nassau  street, 
and  first-class  tailor  and  shoe  shops  do  a  good  busi- 
ness, even  in  Broad  and  other  down-town  streets. 


CHAPTER  LI. 


MEAT  FOR  THE  MILLION. 

Flow  THE  CITY  IS  FED— SOURCES  OP  SUPPLY— STOCK  YARDS  AND 
SLAUGHTP:R  houses — the  metropolitan  markets — WASHINGTON 
MARKET  IN  THE  MORNING — RESTAURANTS  AND  CHEAP  EATING 
HOUSES— LIVING  AND  LODGING — MILLIONS  TO  FEED  MILLIONS. 

ONE  of  the  first  things  that  strikes  the  intelli- 
gent stranger  in  New  York  is  the  pertinent 
and  interesting  inquiry:  "  How  are  the  more  than  a 
million  people  in  the  metropolis  fed  from  day  to 
day?"  And  the  question  covers  a  vastly  wider 
ground;  for  besides  the  actual  residents,  there  is  a 
vast  floating  population,  including  the  guests  at  the 
hotels,  people  traveling  through  the  city  who  must 
get  a  bite  at  some  of  the  numerous  feeding  places, 
and  the  half  million  who  do  business  or  some  kind 
of  work  every  week  day  in  the  city,  who  must  take 
at  least  a  mid-day  meal,  and  who  go  home  at  night 
to  Brooklyn,  New  Jersey,  or  elsewhere  in  the  near-by 
country.  Beyond  these,  there  are  adjacent  towns, 
hotels  far  and  wide  at  the  various  watering  places, 
steamboats,  sailing  ships  and  steamships,  the  restau. 
rants  along  tlie  lines  of  railways,  and  small  markets 
everywhere  within  a  radius  of  three  hundred  miles, 
which  are  reached  by  the  great  lines  of  travel  diverg- 
ing from  the  city — all  these  derive  their  main  food 
supplies  from  the  New  Yoi'k  markets. 


Meat  for  the  Millions, 


799 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY. 

The  best  of  everything,  in  the  way  of  food,  from 
almost  everywhere,  goes  first  to  the  city  and  is  there 
distributed.  Washington  Market,  at  the  foot  of  Ful- 
ton street  on  North  Eiver,  is  where  most  of  the  city's 
meat  is  first  centered  and  sold.  It  supplies  the  lesser 
markets  in  all  parts  of  the  city  with  quarters  of  beef 
and  veal,  and  lamb  and  mutton  carcases  to  be  cut  up 
and  sold  at  retail.  It  is  also  a  vast  wholesale  and  re- 
tail market  for  pork,  poultry,  game,  bacon,  butter, 
cheese,  vegetables,  fruit,  fish,  and  nearly  everything 
coming  under  the  head  of  food.  Hotels,  restaurants, 
boarding-houses,  eating  houses  of  every  class,  steam- 
ships, steamboats,  and  all  other  large  buyers  purchase 
direct  from  the  retail  dealers  in  this  market.  Fulton 
Market,  on  the  East  Eiver  side,  ranks  next  in  impor- 
tance, and  leads  Washington  Market  in  the  specialty 
of  fish.  To  these  two  markets,  not  only  the  large 
buyers  above  mentioned,  but  shrewd  householders  in 
all  parts  of  the  city  come  for  their  day's  supply  every 
morning.  They  get  the  freshest  and  the  best  of  every- 
thing, and  save  the  profit  made  by  the  smaller  markets 
and  uptown  retailers  who  derive  their  supplies  from 
the  same  sources. 

STOCK-YARDS  AND  SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. 

The  largest  of  these  are  located  in  Jersey  City,  close 
by  the  railways  which  bring  cattle  from  the  west.  A 
single  company  has  accommodations  for  6.000  head 
of  cattle  and  20,000  sheep  at  once,  and  can  kill  and 
dress  2,000  cattle  and  5,000  sheep  every  day.  One 


800 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


slaughter-house,  devoted  to  the  special  purpose,  can 
kill  and  dress  10,000  hogs  daily.  There  are  numer- 
ous slaughter-houses,  also,  within  a  short  distance,  at 
Oak  ClifE  and  on  the  Hackensack  river.  Thousands 
of  heads  of  stock  are  brought  alive  in  steamboats  to 
the  slaughter-houses  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city, 
and  here  is  received  the  stock  whiLh  comes  over  the 
New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  railways,  proba- 
bly fully  equal  in  amount  to  that  brought  in  on  the 
Jersey  side  by  the  Penns^dvania  Central  and  the  Erie 
roads.  There  are  more  than  fifty  slaughter-houses  in 
the  city,  and  the  hog-slaughtering  business  alone 
amounts  annually  to  more  than  ^15,000,000.  An  im- 
mense quantity  of  Texas  beef,  killed  there  when  in 
its  best  condition,  and  sent  to  the  north  in  refrigerating 
cars,  now  comes  to  the  city  and  helps  to  feed  the 
millions. 

THE  METROPOLITAN  MARKETS. 

These  generally  are  mere  barracks  and  sheds,  old 
and  crazy  buildings;  but  Tompkins  Market,  near 
Cooper  Union,  is  a  handsome  structure  of  iron ;  the 
Manhattan,  which  presents  one  of  the  finest  fronts  on 
North  River,  is  a  magnificent  building  costing  §1,- 
500,000  ;  the  new  Fulton  will  be  creditable  to  the 
city ;  and  other  fine  market  houses  are  projected. 
The  Catharine,  on  East  River,  is  the  market  most  re- 
sorted to  by  the  poorer  class  of  people  on  that  side 
of  the  city.  Washington,  which  holds,  and  always 
will  hold,  the  preeminence  in  business,  sells  more  than 
$100,000,000  worth  every  year.  And  what  at  first 
sight  seems  strange — its  sales  in  summer,  when  thou- 


Meat  for  the  Millions, 


801 


sands  are  away  from  the  city  in  the  country  and  at 
the  seaside,  are  even  greater  than  in  winter ;  for  in 
summer  the  great  hotels  at  the  resorts  must  be  sup- 
pHed ;  the  steamships  going  to  Europe  mast  be  fur- 
nished with  meats,  and  some  of  them  take  enough  in 
their  ice-boxes  to  feed  the  passengers  on  the  return 
trip,  since  better  and  cheaper  supplies  of  all  sorts  can 
be  bought  in  New  York  than  in  Liverpool  or  London. 

WASHINGTON  MARKET  IN  THE  MORNING. 

Morning  at  this  market  begins  sharp  with  the  last 
stroke  of  midnight.  The  whole  square  is  ablaze  with 
light.  All  the  surrounding  restaurants,  coffee  houses, 
and  bar-rooms  are  busy.  The  whole  length  of  Ful- 
ton street,  as  far  up  as  Broadw^^y,  is  closely  lined  on 
both  sides  with  market  and  vegetable  wagons  from 
Long  Island  and  New  Jersey,  the  drivers  having  come 
as  early  as  10  o'clock  the  night  before  to  select  good 
stands,  and  now  they  are  sleeping  on  top  of  their 
loads  or  in  the  adjacent  door- ways.  All  the  side 
streets  in  the  vicinity  of  the  market  are  thronged 
with  teams.  Butcher  carts  rattle  down  Broadway, 
now  nearly  clear  of  all  other  travel,  the  hotel  and 
restaurant  wagons  come  down  for  their  supplies,  and 
long  before  the  greater  part  of  the  city  is  awake  the 
larders  are  filled  and  countless  breakfasts  are  cookina;. 
There  is  no  livelier  scene  elsewhere  in  the  city,  espe- 
cially on  Saturday,  at  early  morning.  We  must  take 
into  the  calculation,  too,  the  thousands  of  bakers  who 
since  midnight  have  been  preparing  fresh  bread  and 
rolls  for  a  million  mouths.  The  milk  or  "  owl "  trains 
from  all  quarters  begin  to  come  at  midnight.  These 


802 


WoxDEus  OF  A  Great  City. 


are  special  trains  carrying  nothing  but  milk,  and  drain 
ing  the  country  in  all  directions  for  miles  around. 
They  bring  more  than  80,000  gallons  every  morning, 
and  distribute  it  to  hundreds  of  milkmen,  whose  clat- 
tering wagons  and  unearthly  howls  are  heard  oftener 
and  much  earlier  than  would-be  slumberers  think  de- 
sirable. Full  one-fourth  of  the  population  of  the  city 
must  be  up  and  at  work  half  the  night  merely  to 
feed  the  other  three-fourths  during  the  day. 

RESTAURANTS. 

Besides  the  numerous  hotels  conducted  on  the 
European  plan,  all  of  which  provide  for  the  entertain 
ment  of  those  w^ho  wish  only  a  single  meal,  and  which 
make  much  money  by  these  casual  customers,  restau- 
rants, from  the  highest  to  the  lowest  class,  abound  in 
every  quarter  of  the  city.  At  Delmonico's  or  the 
Brunswick  up  town,  or  Delmonico's  down  town,  one 
can  get  a  breakfast,  dinner,  or  supper  from  a  dollar 
to  almost  any  price  he  pleases  to  pay,  and  there  are, 
in  different  localities,  smaller  but  equally  high-priced 
places,  each  with  its  own  set  of  customers,  and  each 
famous  for  one  or  more  specialties  in  the  way  of  good 
eatino;.  The  annual  festivals  of  such  societies  as  the 
St.  Nicholas,  St.  Andrew's,  St.  George's,  New  England, 
and  many  others,  which  used  to  give  their  anniver- 
sary dinners  at  one  of  the  leading  hotels,,  are  now 
held  almost  exclusively  at  Delmonico's,  and  there, 
during  the  winter  especially,  some  public  or  large 
private  dinner  party  assembles  nearly  every  night. 
Of  late  years,  too,  many  fashionable  families  give  re- 
ceptions and  parties  at  the  same  place,  and  thus  save 


Mi: A  T  FOJ!  THE  MILLIONS. 


808 


the  wear  and  tear  of  their  own  carpets  aiirl  furniture. 
All  the  best  restauran's  do  a  large  business  in  send 
ing  dinners  and  suppers  to  private  houses,  and  no 
entertainment  is  given  in  the  city  in  which  some  one 
oi  the  celebrated  caterers  has  not  had  a  hand. 

CHEAP  EATING  HOUSES. 

From  these  expensive  places  one  may  dine  almost 
anywhere,  and  at  almost  an}-  price,  from  a  dollar  down 
to  a  single  dhne.  There  are  many  places  that  will  give 
a  good  dinner  for  fifty  cents,  and  the  diner,  if  he 
only  "knew  the  ropes,"  (as  the  vernacular  phrases 
an  acquaintance  with  the  city,)  could  step  just  around 
the  corner  where  there  is  less  pretension  and  plate, 
and  smaller  rent  and  expenses,  and  get  precisely  the 
same  dinner  for  thirty  cents.  There  are  innumerable 
cheap  eating  houses  that  offer  good  plates  of  meat 
with  vegetables  for  ten  or  fifteen  cents.  These  placos 
make  their  profit  in  their  immense  number  of  custom- 
ers, many  of  them  dining  full  3,000  persons  in  a 
day.  The  more  expensive  restaurants  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  principal  business  thoroughfares  down  town 
expect  to  do  all  their  day's  business  between  the 
hours  of  11  A.  M.  and  4  p.  m.  They  are  mere  lunch 
and  mid-day  dining  places,  but  most  of  them  coin 
money,  and  the  proprietors  get  rich  in  a  very  few 
years.  The  Delmonicos  had  a  very  small  beginning, 
and  men  like  Sweeney  have  risen  from  cheap  chop 
houses  to  the  proprietorship  and  ownership  of  great 
hotels. 

All  over  the  city  there  are  many  "  all  night "  res- 
taurants, which  are  never  closed  for  a  single  hour  from 


804  WONDEBS  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY, 


one  end  of  the  year  to  the  other.  Many  of  these  are 
in  the  Bowery,  in  Chatham  street,  and  aiound  Print- 
ing House  Square.  They  are  cheap  and  have  plenty 
of  customers.  Around  the  markets,  also,  are  many 
low-priced  places.  What  are  called  "Model  Coffee 
Houses  "  ofFer  dishes  in  great  variety  at  five  cents 
per  dish.  Nearly  all  the  restaurants,  the  most  expen- 
sive and  the  cheapest,  reserve  separate  tables  for 
ladies,  and  a  man  or  woman,  resident  or  temporarily 
stopping  in  the  city,  can  live  at  almost  any  price,  from 
five  dollars  down  to  twenty-five  cents  a  day. 

LIVING  AXD  LODGING. 

The  great  number  of  these  restaurants,  and  the 
reasonable  rates  at  which  the  best  meals  are  furnished, 
have  almost  entirely  done  away  with  the  old-fashioned 
boarding  houses  business.  Single  men  and  women 
lodge  in  furnished  rooms  and  get  their  food  where 
they  please.  Many  of  the  hotels  let  rooms  w^ithout 
meals,  and  guests  eat  in  the  hotel  restaurant  or  else- 
where, wherever  they  happen  to  be  when  they  are 
hungry.  Large  numbers  of  families,  who  used  to 
rent  houses,  now  live  much  cheaper  in  the  French  flat 
or  apartment  houses,  some  of  which  have  a  restau- 
rant attached,  and  most  of  them  are  in  the  vicinity  of 
such  establishments,  from  which  families  order  their 
meals,  which  come  with  silver  and  linen  and  a  servant, 
and  are  served  up  much  better  and  cheaper  than 
those  ordering  them  could  cook  for  themselves.  This 
way  of  living  is  now  as  conmion  in  New  York  as  it  is 
in  Paris. 


Meat  for  the  Millions. 


805 


MILLIONS  TO  FEED  MILLIONS. 

If  one  could  only  number  the  millions  of  men  and 
compute  the  millions  in  money  employed  in  all  parts 
of  the  world  to  furnish  New  York  with  table  luxuries, 
as  well  as  mere  food  for  sustenance,  the  figures  w^ould 
be  astounding.  They  would  cover  the  cost  of  raising, 
transpor  ing,  and  handling  the  tea,  coffee,  and  spices 
which  come  over  the  sea ;  the  enormous  foreign  fruit 
trade ;  the  early  vegetable  supplies,  beginning  with 
the  Bermudas  and  following  up  the  warm  spring  from 
the  South  to  Nev/  Jersey  ;  the  successive  strawberry 
supplies  which  begin  in  March  and  continue  through 
June ;  the  immense  peach  crop  from  the  Delaware 
and  Maryland  peninsula  and  from  New  Jersey ;  and 
the  contributions  of  the  whole  country  in  meats,  fish, 
game,  fruits,  and  vegetables  through  the  summer  and 
throughout  the  year.  If  all  these  could  be  summed 
in  one  grand  total,  it  would  give  an  idea  of  what  it 
takes  and  what  it  costs  to  feed  New  York. 

FEEDING  FOREIGN  NATIONS. 

Besides  the  millions  of  bushels  of  wheat  and  the 
thousands  of  barrels  of  beef  and  pork  which  annually 
go  from  this  country  to  feed  foreign  nations,  New 
York  is  the  principal  port  for  exporting,  especially  to 
Great  Britain,  immense  amounts  of  fresh  beef,  on  the 
hoof  in  the  hot  months,  but  during  the  rest  of  the 
year  in  quarters  which  are  wrapped  in  cloth  and  are 
carried  on  ice  or  in  refrigerating  ships,  arriving  in  the 
London  markets  in  prime  condition  anJ  selling  there 
at  the  highest  prices.    It  competes  with  the  best  meat 


80(3 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


in  the  very  "land  of  roast  beef."  So,  too,  enormous 
quantities  of  cheese  and  butter  are  now  exported  from 
New  York,  and  some  of  the  cheese,  after  a  while, 
comes  back  as  the  best  English  stilton.  New  York 
oysters,  fresh  from  Fulton  Market,  arrive  equally  fresh 
in  Liverpool  and  London.  American  apples,  potatoes,- 
and  other  hardy  fruits  and  vegetables  go  by  shiploads 
from  New  York  across  the  Atlantic.  In  short,  the 
city  annually  sends  abroad  food  of  all  kinds,  including 
luxuries  like  our  canned  fruits,  which  are  now  as  well 
known  and  popular  in  London  as  they  are  here,  and 
helps  to  feed  foreign  nations,  as  well  as  to  distribute 
food-supplies  to  the  surrounding  country  of  which  the 
metropolis  is  the  immediate  center. 


CHAPTER  LII. 


THE  NEW  YOKK  POSTOFFICE. 

POSTAL  SERVICE  YEARS  AGO — THE  NEW  POSTOFFICE — BUSINESS  OF  THE 
OFFICE— EXPERT  CLERKS— CHECKS  AND  SAFEGUARDS— A  BUSY  PLACE. 

THE  first  New  York  postoffice  was  opened,  in 
1775,  in  Water  street,  "near  the  coffee  house." 
After  the  evacuation  of  the  city  by  the  British  troops, 
the  office  was  reopened  in  Smith  street,  was  after- 
ward removed  to  Broadway,  then  to  Wall  street,  and 
finally  found  a  twenty  years'  resting  place  in  Wil- 
liam street,  in  a  single  room  twelve  by  fifteen  feet. 
Even  so  recently  as  1825,  the  entire  postal  business 
of  the  city  required  but  eight  clerks  and  eight  car- 
riers. Ten  years  later,  in  the  great  fire  of  1835,  the 
postoffice,  then  in  the  Exchange,  was  burned.  From 
that  time  it  was  located  in  the  Eotunda  in  the  City 
Hall  Park,  till  1845,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  old 
Dutch  Church  in  Nassau  street,  and  there  remained 
until  the  new  edifice  was  completed,  and  opened, 
September  1, 1875. 

THE  NEW  POSTOFFICE. 

The  great  granite  triangular  building,  costing  more 
than  $4,000,000,  and  covering  the  lower  end  of  the 
Park,  on  ground  bought  from  the  city,  is  one  of  the 
jnost  conspicuous}  and  costly  edifices  in  the  city.  It 


808  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


fronts  on  Broadway  340  ft,  on  Park  Row  320  ft., 
and  the  north  front  is  290  ft.  in  length.  It  is  four 
stories  high,  with  a  mansard  roof ;  granite,  iron,brick, 
and  glass  only  were  used  in  the  construction ;  and  the 
building  is  supposed  to  be  fire-proof.  A  handsome 
dome  surmounts  the  center,  and  architecturally  the 
ediiice  is  an  ornament  to  the  city.  The  entire  base- 
ment is  one  immense  apartment  devoted  to  sorting 
letters  and  making  up  mails.  The  main  floor  is  the 
postoffice  proper,  with  boxes,  money  order,  register- 
ing, stamp,  and  envelope  departments,  and  the  private 
rooms  of  the  postmaster.  The  second  and  third 
floors  are  used  as  United  States  court  rooms,  and  the 
janitor  and  watchman  live  in  the  attic. 

BUSINESS  OF  THE  OFFICE. 

Some  idea  of  the  enormous  business  done  in  this 
office  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  facts  and 
figures  :  More  than  200,000,000  letters  and  packages 
are  received  in  a  year,  half  of  which  are  distributed 
through  the  boxes,  one-fourth  go  up  town  to  the 
branch  offices,  and  one-fourth  are  distributed  by  car- 
riers. The  money  paid  on  orders  amounts  annually 
to  more  than  $9,000,000,  and,  as  this  is  paid  mostly 
in  small  sums,  the  number  of  orders  generally  counts 
up  about  800,000.  Necessarily,  there  is  a  small  army 
of  carriers,  and  a  regiment  of  assorters,  distributors 
and  clerks,  many  of  the  latter  having  had  years  of 
experience  in  the  office.  The  carriers,  on  their  re- 
turn routes,  collect  the  letters  in  the  lamp-post  boxes, 
and  it  is  estimated  that  each  carrier  handles  more 
than  318,000  letters  and  packages  in  a  year  or  more 
than  1,000  every  working  day. 


The  New  York  Post  Office, 


809 


EXPERT  CLERKS. 

The  amazing  memories  of  some  of  the  clerks  of 
long  experience  are  wonderful  instances  of  this  kind 
of  cultivation.  The  assorter  for  the  boxes  has  to 
distribute  the  letters  belonging  to  the  boxes  adjoining- 
each  delivery  window,  and  he  must  remember  20,000 
names,  and  at  which  particular  window  each  one's  mail 
is  delivered.  The  assorters  for  carriers  must  know 
each  carrier's  route,  and  must  remember  the  public 
buildings  and  other  places  where  a  great  number  of 
people,  sometimes  more  than  a  thousand,  receive  their 
letters.  Those  who  assort  for  the  city  stations  (the 
branch  postoffices)  become  wonderfully  expert,  and 
well  they  may,  for  they  are  fined  for  every  error. 
Clerks  are  tested  in  various  ways,  such  as  the  distribu- 
tion of  cards  having  names  of  firms  or  of  places  writ- 
ten on  them,  and  those  who  make  these  test  distribu- 
tions with  the  greatest  rapidity  and  accuracy  are  sure 
of  promotion. 

CHECKS  AND  SAFEGUARDS. 

All  incoming  and  outgoing  letters  are  carefully 
balanced  every  night,  and  a  single  missing  letter  must 
l^e  found  before  a  clerk  in  that  department  can  leave 
the  office.  The  prevention  of  crime  is  impossible,  but 
it  is  almost  certain  that  a  stamp  or  a  money  letter 
cannot  be  stolen  in  the  New  York  postoffice  without 
tlie  speedy  detection  of  the  thief.  The  heads  of  de- 
partments, special  officers,  and  detectives  are  on  the 
alert  at  all  times  to  guard  against  peculation.  The 
entire  force  inside  the  office  is  supposed  to  be  honest ; 
anyone  suspected  even  of  dishonesty  had  better  re- 
sign at  once.    Losses  of  letters,  which  are  never  for- 


810 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


warded,  because  the  stamps  are  not  on  them,  lost 
letters  with  money  in  them,  and  other  matters  which 
merchants  charge  to  the  carelessness  or  criminality  of 
persons  employed  in  the  office,  are  almost  invariably 
traced  to  clerks  or  postoffice  boys,  who  are  sent  with 
and  for  letters  by  the  merchants  themselves.  Small 
boys  Avill  steal  the  stamps  off  from  letters  they  are 
sent  to  mail,  and  buy  apples,  pie,  and  beer  with  the 
proceeds.  Dishonest  clerks  on  their  way  to  and  from 
the  counting  room,  will  pocket  letters  containing 
money,  and  the  irate  merchants  make  a  row  at  the 
postoffice,  because  checks  or  money  were  not  for- 
warded, or  remittances  sent  by  their  country  custom- 
ers were  never  received.  So  perfect  is  the  postal 
system  now-a-days,  that  almost  any  letter  can  be 
traced  from  the  time  of  dropping  it  in  the  office  to 
its  delivery  at  the  most  distant  office,  thousands  of 
miles  away. 

At  all  hours  of  the  day,  at  early  morning,  and  late 
at  night,  mails  are  coming  and  going,  and  the  huge 
painted  mail-wagons  lumber  up  and  down  Broadway. 
Tons  of  newspapers  are  daily  transported  by  mail. 
Steamer-day  to  Europe' — always  compelling  extra  and 
rapid  work- — in  these  times  means  almost  every  day 
in  the  week.  Mails  from  over  the  Atlantic,  or  from 
a  hundred  seaports  on  the  South  American  and  Pacific 
coasts,  are  likely  to  come  at  any  hour,  day  or  night, 
and  must  be  at  once  distributed.  At  all  times,  there 
is  no  delay,  almost  no  rest.  At  any  and  every  hour, 
great  heaps  of  mail-matter  must  be  cleared  away  to 
make  room  for  more.  There  is  no  busier  place  in  the 
United  States,  on  any  day  in  the  year,  than  the  New 
York  Postoffice. 


LIII. 


METROPOLITAN  AMUSEMENTS. 

THE  OLD    PARK   THEATRE— OTHER  OLD  THEATRES— MODERI^  PLACES  OP 
AMUSEMENT— STAGE  EPIDEMICS— THE   THEATRES  OP  TO-DAY. 

THE  first  theatre  in  New  York  was  opened  in 
1753,  in  Nassau  street,  which  was  then  a  fash- 
ionable thoroughfare,  and  was  filled  with  fine  resi- 
dences. During  the  long  occupation  of  the  city  by 
the  British,  the  ofi&cers  and  soldiers  supported  a  good 
theatre;  and  after  the  Revolution,  one  or  two  small 
theatres  were  well  patronized  at  certain  seasons,  the 
companies  generally,  and  the  "  stars  "  always  coming 
over  from  England  for  longer  or  shorter  engagements. 
Plenty  of  people  now  living  can  remember  the  old 
Park  theatre,  which  was  the  scene  of  Kean's  triumphs 
in  1822.  This  theatre  stood  on  Park  Row,  nearly 
opposite  the  present  postoffice,  and  it  was  burned 
down  in  1849,  and  never  rebuilt.  Kean,  Cooke, 
Charles  Kemble,  and  his  daughter  Fannie  Kemble, 
Tyrone  Power,  Macready,  Hackett,  Forrest,  and  many 
more  whose  names  are  famous  in  theatrical  annals, 
have  appeared  here,  and  old  theatre-goers  recall  those 
days  and  mourn  over  the  decadence  of  the  drama  in 
these  degenerate  days. 


812 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


OTHEK  OLD  THEATE^iS. 

The  Chatham,  Mitchell's  Olympic,  the  nrst  Broad- 
way theater.  Burton's  in  Chamber's  street,  and  the 
Winter  Garden,  all  celebrated  in  their  day,  have 
passed  away.  Mitchell's  Olympic  and  the  Chatham 
were  the  scenes  in  1846,  of  Chanfrau's  "Mose  in  New 
York,"  which  for  many  months  was  a  positive  "rage" 
in  New  York.  The  actor  played  the  same  part  in 
both  theaters  every  night.  The  old  Broadway  opened 
in  1850,  and  first  introduced  William  Davidge,  the 
comedian,  to  New  York,  and  here  Lester  Wallack 
used  to  act  in  comedy  and  melodrama.  Burton's  was 
famous  for  farces  and  comedies.  The  Winter  Gar- 
den has  had  on  its  stage  Jefferson,  Sothern,  Booth, 
Barrett,  and  a  long  list  of  the  leading  actors  and 
actresses  of  the  country.  Burton  bought  the  theater 
and  lost  in  it  the  money  he  made  in  Chambers  street. 
It  burned  to  the  ground,  and  a  part  of  the  Grand 
Central  Hotel  was  built  on  the  site.  Niblo's  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  most  .attractive  places  of 
amusement  in  the  city.  It  has  been  the  scene  suc- 
cessively of  comedy,  tragedy,  opera,  melodrama,  and 
of  late  years  has  been  almost  wholly  devoted  to 
spectacular  pieces.  Here  the  "Black  Crook"  had  its 
extraordinary  run  for  nearly  three  years  in  succession, 
and  it  made  fortunes  for  the  managers.  The  old 
Bowery  has  always  been  a  favorite  on  the  east  side 
of  the  city.  It  has  been  burned  down  and  rebuilt 
three  or  four  times,  and,  in  1879,  it  was  torn  down 
and  rebuilt  again. 

Booth's  theater,  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and 


Metbopolitan  Amusements. 


813 


Twenty- third  street,  was  one  of  the  finest  bnildings  in 
the  city,  and  one  of  the  best  conducted  theaters  in 
the  world.  Edwin  Booth  built  it,  failed,  and  the 
property  passed  into  other  hands.  J.  D.  Fish,  the 
unfortunate  banker,  now  in  prison,  purchased  it  in 
1882,  and  converted  it  into  a  business  block.  In 
1879,  Dion  Boucicault  remodeled  and  re-decorated  the 
interior,  and  greatly  beautified  and  improved  it.  The 
Grand  Opera  House,  on  Eighth  avenue,  is  a  magnifi- 
cent building.  The  Academy  of  Music,  once  burned 
down  and  rebuilt,  brought  out  Parepa  Rosa,  Kellogg, 
Nilsson,  Lucca,  LaGrange,  and  many  other  celebrated 
prima  donnas.  Wallack's,  both  old  and  new,  has 
long  been  the  favorite  home  of  comedy  and  melo- 
drama. Here  the  old  English  comedies  have  been 
produced,  in  days  past,  by  the  best  company  on  the 
stage,  here  or  in  London.  Other  fine  theaters  up 
town — the  new  Park,  the  Fifth  Avenue,  Standard, 
Bijou  Opera  House,  and  Casino,  the  Union  Square, 
and  others,  have  been  very  popular  with  the  best  class 
of  patrons.  Special  attractions,  from  time  to  tim.e, 
make  the  up-town  theaters  in  turn  the  "fa.shionable" 
theaters.  The  best  theaters  are  in  proximity  to  the 
best  hotels,  and  the  stranger  in  New  York  never  need 
go  far  to  find  a  first-class  evening's  entertainment. 
The  amusement  advertising  column  of  the  daily  jour- 
nals always  present  the  choice  of  more  than  tv\^enty 
theaters,  at  any  one  of  which  the  patron  is  suie  of 
getting  his  money's  worth  of  amusement. 

New  Yorkers  are  the  most  fickle  people  ir  the 
world,  with  regard  to  their  amusements — literally  so 
in  what  amuses  them.    What  everybody  runs  after 


814 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


to-day,  everybody  rejects  to-morrow.  There  was  a 
time  when  nothing  but  the  severely  "legitimate" 
drama  Avas  popular  or  profitable.  It  must  be  Shakes- 
peare, or  standard  dramas,  or  the  old  English 
comedies.  Then  farces  had  their  day.  Localized 
pieces  have  sometimes  had  great  runs.  Next  there 
have  been  periods,  extending  over  months,  of  pan- 
tomine,  burlesque,  opera  bouffe,  spectacles,  and  sen- 
sational plays  translated  from  the  French.  Which- 
ever one  of  these  widely  differing  entertainments 
happens  to  hit  the  popular  taste  for  the  time  being,  is 
pretty  sure  to  exclude  everything  else  in  the  way  of 
amusements.  Tlie  popular  thing  becomes  the  rage. 
Runs  of  the  same  piece,  night  after  night,  will  suc- 
cessively continue  for  months,  and  in  instances  for 
two  or  three  years.  These  are  the  theatrical  epi- 
demics, which  are  always  very  severe  and  widespread 
while  they  last.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  of  them 
Avas  the  "Pinafore"  excitement,  1878-9,  when  no  less 
than  seven  of  the  city  theaters  were  presenting  the 
piece  at  the  same  time,  night  after  night  for  months. 

Of  late  years,  the  metropolitan  theaters  have  im- 
mensely improved  in  many  respects.  The  old  pit  has 
become  the  respectable  parquette ;  the  third  tier, 
with  its  bars  and  disreputable  company,  has  been 
abolished  even  in  the  second-rate  theaters.  The  com- 
forts and  convenience  of  the  theaters  have  been  great- 
ly increased.  The  tone  of  the  stage  has  improved 
and  public  taste  has  benefited  thereby.  The  plays 
are  better,  the  stock  companies  are  much  better,  and 
rivalry  and  competition  have  spurred  every  mana- 
ger to  do  his  best  to  win  public  approval  and  pat- 


Metropolitan  Amusements. 


815 


ronage.  People,  however  sensitive,  can  now  attend 
any  New  York  theater  with  the  certainty  that  neith- 
er their  eyes  nor  ears  will  be  shocked  by  any  stage 
impropriety  of  language  or  demeanor.  The  metro- 
politan theaters  are  constantly  advancing  to  a  higher 
standard  in  the  efforts  made  by  managers  to  im. 
prove  the  stage,  benefit  their  patrons,  and  bring  profit 
to  the  theaters. 


CHAPTER  LIV. 
HOTELS  IN  THE  CITY. 


THE  CITY  COFFEE  HOUSE  —  SHAKESPEARE  TAVERN  AND  WASHINGTON 
HOTEL — THE  MODERN  BROADWAY  HOUSES — GRAND  UP-TOWN  HOTELS 
—  ON  FlfTK  AVENUE— MODERN  MEANS  AND  APPLIANCES. 


NLY  a  little  more  than  a  century  ago,  there 


\^_^  \vas  but  one  inn  or  tavern  of  note  in  'Ne\y 
York.  It  did  not  aspire  to  the  dignity  of  a  hotel, 
but  was  known  as  the  CofEee  House,  and  was  in 
Broad  street,  near  Wall.  From  this  place  the  weekly 
stages  to  Boston  and  to  Philadelphia  started.  There 
were  very  few  travelers  or  strangers  to  accommodate  ; 
it  was  a  sort  of  exchange  for  merchants,  and  ship- 
captains  used  to  leave  and  get  letters  there.  One  of 
the  most  famous  of  the  old  inns  of  the  city  was  the 
Shakespeare  tavern  at  the  corner  of  Fulton  and  Nas- 
sau street.  It  survived  to  comparatively  modern 
times,  and  years,  ago  was  a  resort  for  such  men  as 
Halleck,  General  Webb,  Prosper  M.  Wetmore,  and 
other  wits,  sports,  and  editors,  and  the  old  Park 
theater  actors  have  had  some  great  dinners  in  the 
Shakespeare. 

THE  WASHINGTON  HOTEL. 

The  Washington  hotel,  at  the  corner  of  Broadway, 
fronting  tlie  Battery  was  the  oldest  building  on 


Hotels. 


817 


Broadway.  Sir  Peter  Warren  built  it  for  his  town 
residence  in  1742,  and  Archibald  Kennedy,  at  one 
time  collector  of  the  port,  and  afterward  the  Scotch 
Earl  of  Cassilis,  also  lived  in  it.  Washington  and 
his  stafE  occupied  it  for  some  time,  and  when  the 
British  held  possession  of  the  city,  it  was  Howe's 
headquarters.  Major  John  Andre  lived  there,  and 
in  that  old  building  was  concocted  the  scheme  of 
Benedict  Arnold's  treason,  which  was  to  result  in  the 
surrender  of  West  Point.  The  house  was  torn  down 
some  four  years  ago,  and  the  Field  Building  erected 
on  its  site. 

For  many  years  the  best  hotels  in  the  city  were  on 
Broadway,  below  Fulton  street.  Among  the  most 
celebrated  were  the  City  Hotel,  the  Howard,  and 
Judson's.  The  building  of  the  Astor  House,  oppo- 
site the  City  Hall  Park,  was  the  beginning  of  what 
was  considered  the  up-town  movement.  In  its  day 
the  Astor  was  the  finest  hotel  in  the  w^orld.  About 
the  year  1877,  it  was  remodeled  interiorly,  and  part 
of  it  was  devoted  to  offices,  while  the  rest  remained 
a  hotel.  The  American,  just  above,  w^as  afterwards 
opened  as  a  first-class  house.  Next,  in  the  upward 
movement,  was  the  Living  House  which  fronted  the 
block,  between  Chambers  and  Eeade  streets,  and  for 
some  years  was  very  popular,  but  finally  gave  way  to 
make  room  for  better  renting  stores.  The  Brandreth, 
Prescott,  Taylor's  in  its  day,  the  celebrated  Carleton, 
the  Florence,  the  Cooper,  and  the  Grand  Central, 
have  all  been  well  knoA^^n  on  the  great  thoroughfare, 
though  some  of  them  have  long  been  closed. 

The  St.  Nicholas  and  Metropolitan  were  finished 


818 


WONDERF!  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


and  opened  about  the  same  time,  in  1852,  and  every- 
body said  they  were  too  far  up  town  to  make  money 
and  catch  custom.  They  were  a  great  advance  upon 
any  hotels  yet  built,  excelling  in  many  respects  even 
the  Astor.  Their  success  was  immediate,  and  they 
stimulated  the  building  of  other  large  structures  still 
further  up  town.  The  Metropolitan  is  still  in  exist- 
ence, but  the  St.  Nicholas  has  been  turned  into  a  busi- 
ness block.  Meanwhile,  the  side  streets  down-town 
were  the  localities  for  second-class  hotels  for  mer- 
chants and  others,  and  the  United  States,  in  Fulton 
street,  the  many  hotels  in  Courtland  street,  French's 
in  Chatham  street,  Earle's,  Sweeney's,  and  many  more 
that  might  be  named,  have  all  been  popular  with 
their  patrons. 

GEAND  UP-TOWN  HOTELS. 

There  seems  to  be  no  limit  to  the  upward  march  of 
the  hotels.  Union  Square  has  the  Everett,  the  Union 
Place,  the  Westmoreland,  the  Hotel  Dam,  and  the 
Morton  House.  Eastward,  one  block,  is  the  Westmin- 
ister; westward  in  Fifth  Avenue  is  the  Brevoort ; 
close  by  on  Broadway  are  the  Sinclair,  St.  Dennis  and 
the  New  York;  there  is  a  line  of  fine  houses  on  upper 
Broadway,  among  which  are  the  Coleman,  Sturtevant, 
Gilsey  and  Grand.  Around  Madison  Square  are  the 
Fifth  Avenue,  Albemarle,  Ho:ffman,  St.  James,  Bruns- 
wick, and  Delmonico^s,  all  of  them  ranking  as  first- 
class. 

ON  FIFTH  AVENUE. 

This  main  thoroughfare,  so  long  solely  devoted  to 
fashionable  private  houses,  and  equally  "fashionable" 


Hotels. 


819 


dmrches,  has  been  intruded  upon  by  club  houses, 
boarding  houses,  restaurants,  and  retail  stores,  and  of 
late  years,  the  largest  and  finest  hotels  in  the  city 
have  been  built  on  this  avenue.  Among  the  most 
conspicuous  are  the  Windsor  and  the  Buckingham. 
A  first-class  metropolitan  hotel,  "with  all  the  latest 
improvements, "  is  a  small  city  in  itself.  The  guest 
finds  under  one  roof,  not  only  the  requisites  for  the 
best  of  living  and  lodging,  but  in  many  of  them  he 
can  step  into  tailor's  shops,  shoe  stores,  hat  stores, 
furnishing  goods  stores,  and  can  buy  a  trunk  or  an 
umbrella  without  going  out  into  the  street.  News 
stands,  a  telegraph  ofiice,  messenger  boys,  and  a  dozen 
more  conveniences  for  the  man  of  business  or  of  leis- 
ure, increase  the  attractions  of  modern  hotels.  When 
the  guest  goes  to  his  room  he  is  carried  up  by  steam 
on  an  elevator.  These  are  but  few  of  many  additions 
and  improvements  the  hotel  system  has  introduced. 
In  old  times  all  a  man  looked  for,  beyond  food  and 
lodging,  was  a  bar,  bath-room,  and  barber  shop.  In 
most  of  the  first-class  hotels  there  are  complete  suites 
of  rooms  for  families,  which  comprise  all  the  com- 
forts and  conveniences  of  a  private  residence,  and  in 
which  the  guests  may  be  as  completely  isolated  from 
the  rest  of  the  hotel  as  if  they  were  in  their  own 
homes. 

Most  of  the  proprietors  of  these  great  hotels  get 
rich  and  some  of  them  become  so  in  a  very  few  years. 


CHAPTER  LV. 


PECULIARITIES  OF  GOTHAM  CHURCHES. 

CLERICAL  REPUTE — FLUCTUATION  OF  PLACES  OF  WORSHIP  —  GRACE 
CHURCH — WAYSIDE  WORSHIP — TREATMENT  OP  STRANGERS  —  TRINITY 
AND  ITS  VAST  AND  WEALTHY  ESTATES  —THE  CATHEDRAL. 


N^EW  York  is  unlike  any  other  city  on  the  face 
of  the  globe.  In  her  churches  she  is  more 
peculiar  than  in  anything  else.  She  has  a  style  of 
her  own  ecclesiastically.  On  Sunday  morning  al- 
most all  the  churches  are  well  attended.  The  Sun- 
day dinner — the  only  meal  in  the  week,  perhaps,  in 
which  the  husband  and  father  is  at  home — prevents 
afternoon  worship.  The  Sunday  evening  congrega- 
tions are  usually  very  small,  except  when  some  stir- 
ring theme  is  to  be  presented,or  a  sensational  preacher 
promises  to  entertain  the  crowd. 

CLERICAL  REPUTE. 

A  local  reputation  will  not  serve  a  man  in  the  city. 
No  matter  how  popular  he  is  at  home,  or  how  eloquent 
he  maybe,  it  will  not  avail  him  unless  theNew^  Yorkers 
know  him.  Men  who  can  fill  the  largest  houses  in 
other  cities  preach  to  empty  benches  in  New  York; 
and  no  amount  of  advertising  will  draw  if  the  party  is 
a  stranger.  New  York  tries  a  minister  more  than 
any  other  city.    If  he  has  mettle  in  him,  and  patience, 


Gotham  Churches. 


821 


he  will  succeed.  Men  of  marked  ability  and  talent 
get  a  call  to  New  York,  and  are  as  completely  lost 
as  if  settled  at  Sandy  Hook.  It  is  a  great  wonder 
that  any  one  well  settled  will  come  to  the  city.  A 
few  large,  rich  congregations  are  all  well  enough. 
The  great  mass  of  the  churches  are  poor.  To  build 
houses  and  maintain  public  worship  cost  a  great  deal. 
Living  is  high,  and  ministers  are  cramped,  hedged 
in,  and  confined.  Hundreds  of  families,  who,  before 
they  moved  to  New  York,  supported  and  attended 
public  worship,  do  neither  after  they  come.  Pew 
rents  are  very  high,  and  a  man  on  a  small  salary,  with 
a  small  income,  might  as  well  attempt  to  live  on 
Fifth  avenue  as  to  attend  a  fashionable  place  of  wor- 
ship. Hosts  of  persons  professing  to  be  Christians 
have  no  religious  home,  but  from  year  to  year  drift 
round  from  church  to  church,  and  pick  np  their 
spiritual  provender  where  they  can  find  it.  The 
population  is  constantly  changing  from  the  east  side 
to  the  west,  from  the  west  side  to  the  north,  from 
the  north  to  Brooklyn,  from  Brooklyn  to  the  country, 
and  from  the  country  back  again  to  New  York. 
Many  persons  are  exceedingly  liberal  in  their  con- 
tributions to  religious  objects.  The  mass  care  but 
little,  and  the  whole  burden  falls  on  a  few.  The 
population  fluctuates,  and  the  labor  of  keeping  a 
city  charge  together  is  very  great.  Many  pastors 
have  left  a  large,  warm-hearted,  liberal  people  in  the 
country  for  a  church  in  New  York.  Their  salaries, 
large  as  they  seemed,  proved  inadequate  to  a  com- 
fortable support.  After  spending  what  they  saved 
in  their  rural  home,  they  retired  from  the  city  in  dis- 


822  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


gust.  A  Connecticut  pastor  moved  to  this  city  not 
long  since.  He  had  a  commanding  church,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  New  England.  He 
was  called  to  what  had  been  one  of  the  most  fashion- 
able churches.  It  had  begun  to  wane  before  he  came 
to  the  city.  The  influence  he  had  in  other  places  did 
not  avail  him  here.  His  congregation  steadily  de- 
creased, and  he  soon  resigned. 

Fashion  has  a  great  deal  to  do  with  ministerial 
success.  New  York  has  great  business  talent,  but  it 
is  less  a^sthetical,  less  literary.  The  standard  of  in- 
telligence is  much  loAver  than  in  any  of  the  rural 
towns.  Pulpit  ability  need  not  be  high  to  satisfy  the 
church-goers  of  New  York,  but  it  must  be  fashion- 
able. If  a  man  has  a  congregation  composed  of  the 
upper  ten,  though  his  pulpit  talents  be  small^  and 
his  oratory  positively  bad,  he  will  have  a  success. 
If  he  has  not  a  good  position,  he  will  struggle  in  vain 
against  the  worldliness  of  the  city,  and  fight  hard  to 
keep  poverty  from  his  door.  In  a  few  instances  the 
settlements  in  New  York  churches  are  very  long.  In 
most  cases,  however,  pastors  come  and  go.  In  one 
denomination,  the  members  of  one  association,  and 
that  a  very  large  one,  all  changed  their  pastorates  in 
ten  years. 

FLUCTUATION  OF  CHURCHES. 

At  one  time  all  the  leading  churches  were  down 
down.  They  are  now  nearly  all  up  town.  They  are 
so  near  together  that  the  singing  of  one  church  can 
be  heard  in  another.  Between  Twentieth  and  Forty- 
eighth  streets,  and  between  Fourth  avenue  and  Broad- 


Gotham  Churches. 


823 


way,  til  ere  are  probably  more  costly  cnurches  than 
can  be  found  in  tlie  same  space  dn  any  other  part  of 
the  world.  They  have  outrun  the  population,  and 
nearly  all  are  thinly  attended. 

This  up-town  movement  is  a  very  queer  thing. 
The  old  Wall  Street  Church  began  it  many  years 
ago.  The  society  purchased  a  square  in  an  mipaved, 
mnddy,  and  untried  locality,  giving  little  promise 
that  it  was  to  be  the  abode  of  wealth  and  fashion. 
A  costly  church  was  built,  which  still  stands  on 
Fifth  avenue  and  Twelfth  street.  The  Duane  Street 
Church  followed,  and  built  a  costly  edifice  on  the 
corner  of  University  Place  and  Tenth  street.  Those 
new  churches  made  a  heavy  drain  on  the  down-town 
societies,  and  took  the  wealthy  men  who  were  driven 
from  their  homes  down  town  by  trade.  For  a  time 
they  became  the  aristocratic  churches  of  the  city. 
The  Eivington  Street  Church  having  been  depleted  by 
the  up-town  movement,  took  a  start  and  erected  a 
fine  brown-stone  edifice  on  the  corner  of  Fourteenth 
street  and  Second  avenue,  then  a  fashionable  locality. 
Broome  Street  Church  caught  the  fashionable  fever, 
secured  that  most  eligible  site,  corner  of  Madison 
avenue  and  Twenty-fourth  street,  and  put  up  one  of 
the  richest  and  most  gaudy  edifices  in  New  York. 
The  churches  which  had  gone  up  town,  and  stripped 
the  humbler  congregations  of  men  of  wealth  and 
ladies  of  fashion,  had  a  tribute  of  justice  meted  out 
to  them.  Madison  Avenue  Church  became  the 
height  of  fashion,  and  served  the  up-town  churches  as 
they  had  served  their  brethren  in  the  lower  part  of 


824 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


the  city.  The  Old  Brick  Church  at  the  Park,  fol- 
lowed  in  the  wake  of  sister  societies,  secured  a  most 
fashionable  site  on  Fifth  avenue,  and  outbuilt  all 
churches  and  outtopped  all  steeples.  The  work  of 
removal  still  goes  on.  Feeble  down-town  societies, 
which  could  scarcely  live,  sell  their  valuable  sites 
for  merchandise,  and  are  able  to  build  a  costly  up- 
town  church.  Go  as  high  as  a  congregation  will, 
some  church  will  outstri])  them,  and  secure  the  fash- 
ionables, who  are  ever  on  the  wing  for  a  new  aris- 
tocratic place  of  worship. 

GRACE  CHURCH. 

For  nearly  twenty  years  Grace  Church  has  resisted 
all  the  fluctuations  of  the  city.  It  led  in  the  up- 
town movement.  From  its  location,  below  Trinit}' 
Church,  it  removed  to  its  present  commanding  site 
on  the  bend  of  Broadway,  at  the  head  of  Eleventh 
street.  It  has  always  been  crowded  with  the  intelli- 
gence, wealth,  and  fashion  of  New  York.  Its  singing 
has  always  been  one  of  its  great  features,  and  has 
never  been  surpassed.  To  be  married  in  Grace 
Church  has  been  regarded  as  the  height  of  earthly 
felicity.  It  boasts  the  most  noted  sexton  on  the 
continent.  Brown,  of  Grace  Church  is  known  every- 
where. He  is  a  man  of  immense  size.  His  face  is 
very  red,  and  he  has  the  air  of  a  boatswain.  It  i.-^- 
worth  a  visit  to  Grace  Church  to  be  ushered  into  a 
pew  by  Brown,  With  his  coat  flying  open,  with  the 
speed  of  a  man  who  is  under  a  great  pressui'e,  and 
with  the  air  of  an  alderman  handing  a  bowl  of  soup 
to  a  charity  boy,  he  shows  you  into  a  seat,  and  im- 


Gotham  Churches. 


825 


presses  you  with  his  condescension  as  he  closes  the 
door.  He  is  immensely  popular  with  the  elite  of 
New  York.  No  pra-ty,  bridal,  or  burial,  is  considered 
complete  without  him.  He  keeps  on  hand  any  quan- 
tity of  dukes,  marquises,  counts,  and  distinguished 
foreigners,  ready  to  be  served  at  popular  parties  at 
a  moment's  notice.  Outside  of  Grace  Church,  on 
Sunday  morning,  can  be  seen  the  finest  turnouts  in 
the  city,^ —  carriages,  coupes,  cabriolets,  with  coach- 
men and  footmen  in  livery,- — ^vhich  fill  the  street, 
making  it  gay  and  brilliant  for  blocks  around. 

WAYSIDE  WORSHIP. 

All  sorts  of  plans  are  resorted  to,  to  get  an 
audience.  Ministers  preach  from  the  decks  of  ships 
and  in  bar-rooms,  in  halls  and  in  theatres,  under 
tents  and  in  billiard  rooms,  in  public  parks  and  in 
public  gardens.  To  reach  the  masses,  a  benevolent 
gentleman  hired  Cooper  Institute  for  one  year,  pay- 
ing two  thousand  dollars  for  its  use  on  Sunday.  It 
was  thrown  open  to  the  public.  The  movement  was 
a  failure,  for  the  people  Avould  not  attend.  The 
Academy  of  Music  has  been  thrown  open,  with 
assembly  rooms,*  and  opera  houses.  If  they  were 
filled,  the  stated  ministrations  of  the  gospel  were 
neglected.  Small  congregations  gather  to  hear  men 
and  Avomen  preach  ultraism  on  the  Lord's  Day.  Long- 
bearded  men  and  strong-minded  women  officiate, 
without  disturbing  very  much  the  regular  worship  of 
the  city.  Nothing  is  more  curious  than  the  Sunday 
notices  which  fill  the  Sunday  papers.  At  one  time 
the  regular  churches  scorned  to  advertise.  They  left 


826 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


this  custom  to  the  erratic  and  sensational,  and  to  men 
getting  up  new  congregations.  But  religious  ad  ver- 
tising has  become  a  necessity,  and  new  congregations 
cannot  dispense  with  it.  Sunday  notices  indicate  the 
religious  teaching  of  the  day.  Odd  texts 'and  queer 
themes  are  put  forth  to  attract  the  floating  masses. 
No  subject  conies  amiss.  Themes  are  announced  that 
are  suited  to  a  French  Sabbath  better  than  to  a  Chris- 
tian one.  Others  are  advertised  that  would  conform 
to  a  New  England  Sunday.  The  Turks,  the  Chinese, 
Pagan  and  Infidel,  the  Catholic,  Jews,  with  all  grades 
of  Protestants,  keep  Sunday  after  their  own  fashion. 
Operatic  choirs,  Scotch  precentors,  and  surpliced 
boys,  lead  the  devotions.  Scraggly  prophets  prophesy 
to  a  handful  of  old  women  and  a  few  damsels  in 
bloomer  costume,  about  the  coming  doom.  DanieFs 
horns  are  explained  by  men  w^ho  preach  to  the  few 
faithful ;  and  worship  adapted  to  every  nationality 
and  form  of  belief  can  be  found  on  the  Sabbath. 

TEEATMENT  OF  STEA^^GEES. 

Much  complaint  exists  that  New  York  church-goers 
are  proud,  exclusive,  and  rude  to  strangers.  In  most 
New  York  churches  the  seats  are  abundant,  and 
strangers  are  welcome.  A  few  aristocratic  churches 
are  crowded,  and  some  sensational  houses  are  jammed. 
New  York  is  full  of  strangers.  They  are  here  to  see 
the  sights.  They  want  to  enjoy  the  five  thousand 
dollar  choir.  They  want  to  hear  the  minister  that  is 
paid  thirteen  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  earns 
twenty-five  thousand  more  by  speaking  and  lecturing. 
Besides  these  strangers,  we  have  in  New  York  a 


Gotham  Churches. 


827 


boomful  of  drift  wood,  who  float  round  popular 
assemblies,  and  demand  the  best  pews.  These  come 
to  see,  not  to  worship.  They  gape,  and  stare,  and 
whisper,  and  sit  bolt  upright  during  prayer.  Theii- 
boldness,  flippant  talk,  and  rudeness  annoy  regular 
worshipers.  They  criticise  the  minister,  wonder  how 
old  he  is,  and  if  he  is  married.  They  criticise  the 
singing,  the  length  of  the  sermon,  take  out  their 
watches,  and  wish  the  thing  was  done.  Congregations 
tire  of  this ;  they  are  not  honored  by  having  such 
persons  occupy  their  pews ;  and  when  strangers  com- 
plain through  the  newspapers  that  they  have  to  stand 
in  the  vestibule,  and  that  no  one  invites  them  to  a 
seat,  they  can  find  the  reason  in  the  rude  and  ill-man- 
nered behavior  of  a  large  class  of  strangers  who  be- 
set our  churches. 

CHURCH  OF  THE  STRANGEES. 

Within  a  few  years  there  has  been  opened  in  Mer- 
cer street  a  spacious  and  handsome  church  expressly 
designed,  as  its  name  indicates,  for  strangers  in  the 
city.  The  form  of  worship  is  Congregational,  but 
the  church  is  not  strictly  denominational,  and  is  at- 
tended by  Protestants  of  all  beliefs.  It  is  well  filled 
every  Sunday,  and  the  neighborhood  is  quiet  and 
respectable.  The  late  Cornelius  Vanderbilt  occasion- 
ally attended  this  church,  which  was  near  his  house, 
and  during  his  protracted  illness  he  was  visited  almost 
daily  by  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  F.  Deems. 
In  grateful  return,  the  old  Commodore  left  by  will  a 
handsome  bequest  to  the  church,  and  $25,000  to  the 
pastor. 


828  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


TEINITY  CHUKCH  CORPORATION. 

The  Dutcli  settled  the  Island  of  Manhattan,  and 
were  the  lords  of  the  soil.  They  persecuted  nobody. 
They  welcomed  all  sects  and  conditions  of  men,  stip- 
ulating only  that  their  own  customs,  sacred  and  re- 
ligious, should  not  be  meddled  with.  The  worship 
of  the  Dutch  was  in  the  language  of  Holland,  but 
their  talk  and  traffic  were  in  English.  A  few  Episco- 
palians, who  came  over  early,  found  Kew  York  a 
genial  soil.  They  opened  worship  in  the  English 
language.  To  the  great  sorrow  of  the  Dutch,  theii* 
children  ran  off  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  because  the 
worship  Avas  in  English.  Yet  the  Episcopalians  were 
made  welcome,  and  were  allowed  to  occupy  the  Dutch 
Church  one-half  of  the  Lord's  Day.  As  a  separate 
parish.  Trinity  was  organized  in  1697.  Their  house 
of  worship  was  a  small,  square  edifice,  with  a  steeple. 
Pews  were  assigned  to  worshipers  according  to  rank. 
There  was  the  "Governor's  Pew,"  the  "Bachelor's 
Pew,"  the  "Housekeeper's  Pew,"  "Pew  for  Masters 
of  Vessels;"  and  others  were  specially  named. 

THE  WEALTH  OF  TRII^ITY. 

It  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  wealth  of  this  corpo- 
ration. It  is, probably  from  eight  to  ten  millions.  It 
originated  with  a  farm,  in  the  then  upper  part  of  New 
York,  now  in  the  center  of  business,  which  was  leased 
by  the  Governor  to  Trinity  Church.  Subsequently 
one  of  the  Governors  of  the  colony  gave  it  to  Trinity 
Church  in  fee.  The  papers  were  sent  across  the 
waters  for  approval,  but  the  liome  government  re- 
fused to  ratify  the  act  of  the  Governor.    In  the 


^^T\mt^^  GYiuro^i-- -Broadway,  opposite  UTaW  Street. 


I 

I 


Gotham  Churches, 


829 


Revolution,  the  estate  became  the  property  of  the 
State.  It  got  back  into  the  hands  of  Trinity;  bnt 
New  York  has  a  claim  which  has  never  been  settled, 
that  may  cause  some  trouble  by  and  by. 

Nearly  all  this  farm  is  now  Covered  with  the  most 
elegant  and  costly  buildings  of  New  York,  and  the 
property  held  by  Trinity,  as  a  w^hole,  is  in  parts  of 
the  city  where  the  land  is  most  valuable.  It  lies  on 
Broad^^  ay,  betAveen  the  Battery  and  Fourteenth  street, 
and  spreads  out  like  a  fan.  It  embraces  wharves, 
ferries,  dock  privileges,  and  depots;  immense  blocks 
on  Broadway,  of  marble,  granite,  iron,  and  brown 
stone;  splendid  stores,  hotels,  theaters,  churches,  and 
private  mansions.  The  most  costly  and  splendid 
buildings  in  New  Ycrk  stand  on  leased  ground,  and 
the  owners  pay  a  ground  rent.  Leases  usually  run 
for  twenty-one  years,  containing  several  renewals  on 
a  new  valuation.  A  Trinity  Church  lease,  w^ith  its 
peculiar  privileges  and  covenants,  is  one  of  the  most 
desirable  titles  in  the  city. 

THE  CATHEDRAL. 

The  new  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  covering  the  whole 
block  between  Fifty-first  and  Fifty-second  streets, 
stands  on  the  highest  ground  in  Fifth  Avenue,  is  the 
largest  church  in  the  city,  and  one  of  the  largest  and 
finest  on  this  continent.  It  was  begun  in  1858,  and 
was  dedicated  by  Cardinal  McCloskey,  in  May,  1879, 
in  the  presence  of  a  great  number  of  archbishops, 
bishops,  and  clergy,  and  a  vast  concourse  of  specta- 
tors, the  great  building  easily  holding  more  than 
15,000  people.    The  cathedral,  which  stands  on  a 


830 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


solid  rock  foundation,  is  built  of  white  marble  in  the 
decorated  Gothic  style  of  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
centuries.    It  is  332  feet  long,  width  at  transept  174 
feet,  general  width  132  feet,  heighth  of  each  of  the 
two  spires  328  feet,  and  these  flank  a  central  gable 
156  feet  high.    Over  the  central  door  are  the  arms 
of  the  archdiocese  surmounted  by  a  cardinal's  hai, 
and  on  the  two  other  front  entrances  are  the  arms  of 
the  United  States  and  the  State  of  New  York.  Ela- 
borate ornamentation,  pinnacles,  statues,  and  stained 
windows,  make  it  one  of  the  most  beautiful  buildings 
in  the  world.    Ifc  cost  $2,500,000,  the  high  altar  of 
the  finest  Italian  marble,  inlaid  with  alabaster  and 
precious  stones,  with  the  reredos  and  statues,  alone 
costing  $100,000;  and  more  than  this  last  amount 
was  raised  in  a  single  fair  held  in  the  building,  Pro- 
testants as  well  as  Catholics  attending  in  great  num- 
bers, and  spending  money  freely.    It  costs  $70  a  night 
to  light  the  cathedral.    Besides  the  grand  organ  there 
is  a  chancel  organ,  and  both  are  used  at  the  services. 
The  superb  stained  windows,  many  of  them  memorial, 
were  the  gifts  of  dioceses,  churches,  societies,  and  in- 
dividuals.   One  window  is  a  memorial  to  James  Ren- 
wick,  the  architect,  who  gave  twenty  years  of  his  life 
to  the  construction  of  this  magnificent  edifice,  and 
refused  to  receive  one  dollar  in  compensation.  The 
Imilding  will  be  his  best  monument.    The  cathedral, 
standing  on  the  top  of  Murray  Hill,  in  the  very 
center  of  the  most  fashionable  quarter  of  the  city,  is 
justly  regarded  by  all  citizens,  of  every  creed,  as  an 
honor  to  New  York,  and  one  of  the  grandest  archi- 
tectural ornaments  of  the  metropolis. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 


QUEER  INDUSTRIES. 


STRANGE  AVOCATIONS  BY  WHICH  HUNDREDS  OF  PERSONS  CONTRIVE  TO 
MAKE  A  LIVING — THE  SAUER  KRAUT  CUTTER  AND  C^t's  MEAT  MAN 
— STREET  VENDORS  OP  COOLING  DRINKS — FAKIRS,  ARTISTS  AND 
MUSICIANS — SANDWICH  ARTISTS — THE  TIME  PEDDLER. 


HERE  are  devious  ways  of  earning  an  honest 


JL  livelihood  in  this  world,  and  New  York  is  filled 
with  persons  who  certainly  follow  queer  industries. 
Conrad  Stein's  avocation,  for  instance,  is  a  peculiar 
one.  He  is  a  professional  sauer  kraut  cutter.  His 
stock  in  trade  consists  of  a  machine  constructed  on 
the  plan  of  a  tobacco  cutter — a  long  knife,  fastened 
at  one  end  to  an  upright  by  a  loose  pin,  which  works 
up  and  down  on  a  block  of  wood,  and  his  muscle. 
Nature  provided  the  last  for  him,  and  the  knife  cost 
him  $1.25  five  years  ago.  He  fears  he  will  have  to 
get  a  new  one  in  1000.  His  business  does  not,  as 
may  be  perceived,  call  for  a  very  extensive  original 
capital.  Conrad,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  is  one 
of  five  men  who  practice  the  craft  of  cutting  cabbage 
for  the  stock  German  delicacy.  They  travel  from 
house  to  house  in  the  Teutonic  quarter,  soliciting 
trade,  and  in  addition  to  this  casual  custom  have 
regular  customers  whom  they  visic  at  stated  periods. 
They  charge  ten  cents  a  barrel  for  cutting  cabbage, 


832 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


and  in  the  brisk  season,  from  August  to  May,  average 
about  two  dollars  a  day  at  it. 

Sauer  kraut  is  essentially  a  winter  dish.  There 
are  people  who  eat  it  "all  the  time,"  as  the  song  on 
the  subject  says ;  but  they  have  to  cut  their  cab- 
bage themselves.  Sauer  kraut  cutting,  as  a  trade, 
has  flourished  here  for  some  years  now.  Formerly 
the  grocery  store  men  used  to  manufacture  it  in  vast 
quantities,  and  sell  it  at  fifteen  and  twenty  cents  a 
quart.  But  now  wise  housewives  buy  their  cabbage 
by  the  wholesale,  hire  Conrad  Stein  or  one  of  his  ri- 
vals to  cut  them  up,  and  pack  the  shredded  result  in 
barrels  with  salt  and  water  to  ferment  until  it  is 
ripe  for  consumption.  This  has  brought  the  price  of 
sauer  ki*aut  at  the  groceries  down  to  eight  or  ten 
cents  a  quart,  'and  the  grocers,  of  course,  denounce 
the  cabbage  cutters  as  frauds. 

THE  CATS'-MEAT  MAl^. 

The  cat's-meat  man  represents  another  of  the  queer 
crafts  of  New  York.  Our  down-town  warehouses 
are  all  infested  with  rats,  and  one  of  the  articles  in 
their  insurance  policies,  as  well  as  their  own  interest, 
requires  them  to  keep  a  sufficient  number  of  cats  to 
preserve  their  stock  from  ruin  by  the  rodents.  Conse- 
quently, there  is  a  vast  feline  army  billeted  in  the 
great  mart.  Formerly  the  cats  were  fed  by  their  own- 
ers, and  on  Sundays,  when  the  stores  were  closed, 
they  went  hungry ;  but  some  years  ago,  a  clear-head- 
ed man,  who  happened  to  be  out  of  work  at  the 
time,  hit  upon  a*  bright  idea.  He  had  heard  how 
cats  and  dogs  are  provided  with  food  in  London  b}^ 


Queer  Industries. 


833 


men  who  make  that  species  of  catering  their  business, 
and  determined  to  try  the  plan  in  New  York.  He 
began  with  a  basket,  out  of  which  he  peddled  por- 
tions of  meat  to  the  various  warehouse  cats  at  the 
rate  of  five  cents  a  head  per  day.  Where  a  number 
of  cats  were  kept  he  fed  them  at  a  considerably  re- 
duced rate  by  the  week.  He  now  uses  a  little  pony 
cart,  and  sells  over  two  hundred  pounds  of  meat  a 
da}^  Several  rivals,  profiting  by  his  example,  are 
now  engaged  in  the  business.  In  spite  of  this  oppo- 
sition, however,  the  pioneer  cat's-meat  man  makes 
thirty-five  or  forty-five  dollars  a  week  over  all  expen- 
ses. The  cats  all  know  him,  and  his  progress  through 
the  streets  where  he  makes  his  rounds  in  the  early 
morning  is  attended  by  a  perfect  army  of  felines,  all 
mewing  and  purring  around  him,  scampering  about 
his  cart  wheels  and  under  his  pony's  legs.  Horse 
meat  and  coarse  cuts  of  beef  are  the  chief  diet  fur- 
nished by  the  cat's-meat  man  to  his  boarders.  On 
Friday,  by  way  of  variety,  they  get  fish,  presumably 
catfish.  Cats  are  fond  of  fish,  and  Friday  is  said  to  * 
be  marked  with  a  red  letter  in  their  calendar. 

In  London  the  cat  and  dog  meat  men  feed  their 
clients  on  th^  flesh  of  animals  which  have  died  nat- 
ural deaths.  Here,  however,  all  the  meat  is  bought 
in  the  markets,  and  if  it  is  not  exactly  porterhouse 
steak,  it  is,  at  least,  fit  to  eat.  If  cats  have  their 
peripatetic  caterers,  so  do  their  masters.  There  is  in 
existence  in  this  city  a  so-called  "Catering  Company," 
which  contracts  to  furnish  meals  regularly  at  the 
offices  or  private  houses  of  its  customers.  The  food 
is  cooked  in  an  extensive  kitchen,  which  serves  as  a 


834 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


sort  of  central  office,  and  sent  ofP  to  the  boarders  in 
wagons.  Two  or  three  meals  a  day  are  served  as 
desired,  and  the  price  varies  according  to  the  number 
furnished,  from  seven  dollars  to  ten  dollars  a  week 
for  a  single  person.  The  bill  of  fare  is  varied  every 
day.  It  consists  commonly  of  three  dishes  for  break- 
fast, and  of  from  five  to  seven,  with  soup  and  desert, 
for  dinner.  The  company  makes  a  specialty  of  veg- 
etables, which  it  provides  in  vast  variety,  and  with- 
out stint.  It  is  kept  warm,  while  in  the  wagons,  by 
a  patented  process,  and  is  served  in  a  most  palatable 
condition.  The  chief  business  of  the  catering  com- 
pany, so  far,  has  been  "\vith  small  families  of  adults 
who  live  in  furnished  lodgings,  and  with  lazy  bachel- 
ors similarly  housed.  The  china,  linen  and  service 
are  excellent,  and  the  menu  choice  enough  to  suit 
every  appetite.  Less  elaborate  meals  are  served  at 
a  lower  rate  ;  but  the  company  aims  to  secure  a  class 
of  custom  of  the  better  sort,  and  does  not  care  to  de- 
velop the  cheap  trade.  The  business  has  long  been  a 
profitable  one  in  London  and  Paris,  and  will  probably 
prove  lucrative  here. 

CHEAP  DRINKS. 

Another  European  custom  which  is  proving  profit- 
able here  is  the  out-of-door  sale  of  refreshing  bevera- 
ges. In  France,  Spain,  Italy  and  Germany  one 
meets  the  lemonade  or  the  sugar-water  seller  at 
every  street  corner.  The  brawny  bull-fighter,  of 
Madrid,  or  the  stalwart  workingman  of  Paris  and 
Lyons,  tosses  ofE  the  glass  of  lemonade  or  sweetened 
water  as  our  laborer  does  his  lager  or  something 
stronger. 


Queer  Industries. 


835 


A  few  summers  ago  a  man  appeared  on  Park  Row, 
retailing  lemonade  from  a  bucket  at  tw^o,  three  and 
five  cents  a  glass.  Tlie  speculation  proved  a  wonder- 
ful hit.  To-day  he  has  a  big  stand  near  the  spot 
where  he  first  began  business,  and  sells  gallons  of  his 
refreshing  liquid  daily.  He  even  comi^ounds  fancy 
drinks,  such  as  lemonade  with  eggs,  or  beef  extract, 
for  roystering  customers  whose  overnight  potations 
had  incapacitated  their  stomachs  for  the  digestion  of 
more  solid  food.  He  has  found  hundreds  of  imita- 
tors, male  and  female,  and  a  fruit  or  candy  stand  is 
hardly  complete  now  without  its  lemonade  pail.  The 
lemonade  sellers  have  driven  almost  all  the  old  time 
out-door  soda  water  stands  from  the  field.  They 
charge  from  one  to  ten  cents,  according  to  the  size  of 
glasses  and  tlie  extra  ingredients  in  the  compound. 
Straight  lemonade  is  nearly  all  profit.  Half  a  dollar's 
worth  of  ice,  lemons  and  sugar  will  make  three  gal- 
lons of  it,  containing  about  one  hundred  five-cent 
glasses.  The  reader  can  continue  the  calculation  for 
himself.  On  one  of  the  hot  days  of  last  summer  the 
Park  Row  lemonade  bazaar  dispensed  twenty-one 
gallons.  Its  summer  average  was  about  fifteen  gal- 
lons. Iced  milk,  too,  made  its  appearance  at  manj^ 
of  the  stands  this  year,  and  had  an  extensive  sale. 

There  are  other  small  trafiickers  who  make  good 
livings  by  peddling  oysters,  mutton  and  pork,  pies, 
sandwiches  and  waffles  among  the  down-town  offices. 
There  are  also  fruit  and  candy  peddlers  who  have 
regular  routes  in  the  same  sections,  and  sell  consider- 
able quantities  of  their  wares,  which  are  commonly 
supposed  to  be  the  peculiar  weaknesses  of  small  boys 
and  girls,  to  staid  business  men  and  dapper  clerks. 


836 


Won  DEEP  OF  A  Great  City. 


Many  of  these  itinerant  tradesmen  have  been  in  the 
business  for  years,  and  are  quite  well  ofE.  In  several 
cases  they  are  the  descendants  of  those  who  were  in 
the  trade  half  a  century  ago.  Old  Ann  Sullivan,  a 
well-known  candy  and  apple  woman,  has  served  some 
half  a  dozen  big  business  houses  daily  for  nearly 
twenty  years.  One  of  them  moved  almost  a  mile 
from  its  old  site  a  year  ago,  but  Ann  appeared  in  the 
new  place  at  her  usual  hour  on  the  day  of  the  reopen- 
ing, and  has  not  missed  a  day  since.  The  general 
public  has  little,  if  any,  idea  of  the  profits  made  in 
these  petty  trades.  Of  course  there  are  no  fortunes 
made  at  them,  but  they  afford,  in  almost  all  cases,  a 
fair  living,  and  something  to  spare.  People  who  have 
stands  at  busy  corners,  or  who  work  over  regular 
routes,  invariably  make  a  good  profit.  One  peanut 
vender,  at  Third  avenue  and  Stuyvesant  street,  aver- 
ages a  sale  of  three  bushels'of  that  fruit  a  day.  This 
merchant  has  a  little  steam  engine,  which  he 
paid  $75  for,  to  turn  the  drum  in  which  he  roasts 
the  nuts.  There  are  scores  of  stands  which  count  on 
the  regular  sale  of  a  bushel  and  a  half  of  peanuts 
per  diem.  The  Italians,  who  make  the  most  money 
and  spend  the  least,  invariably  have  stockings  well 
stuffed  with  savings.  There  are  old  men  and  women 
who  pick  up  many  a  dollar  by  the  sale  of  cakes  and 
sweatments  of  strange  composition,  at  the  doors  of 
the  school-houses,  where  they  take  their  places  as 
regular  as  the  sun  rises,  except  in  vacation  time.  Then 
they  probably  lock  themselves  up  and  replenish  their 
stocks  for  the  next  season,  in  the  mystery  and  seclu- 
sion that  alchemistic  task  requires.    Inquiry  among 


Queer  Industries. 


837 


the  fruit  and  peanut  venders,  resulted  in  the  discov- 
ery that  they  average  in  summer  a  profit  of  from  $2.50 
to  $10  a  day,  and  a  few  run  even  higher.  In  winter 
they  make  very  little,  if  anything.  Most  of  them  pay 
rent  for  their  stands  to  the  lessees  of  the  houses  in 
front  of  which  they  are  located,  and  they  keep  open 
in  cold  weather  solely  to  make  money  enough  to  de- 
fray this  expense. 

The  gains  by  the  vendors  who  sell  from  barrows 
are  more  precarious.  There  is  an  ordinance  against 
these  barrows  being  stationary  and  obstructing  the 
roadway,  and  the  policemen  keep  them  moving  pretty 
constantly,  so  they  do  not  enjoy  the  opportunity  of 
attracting  custom  such  as  the  permanent  stands 
command. 

There  are  few  things  which  cannot  nowadays  be 
purchased  from  street  venders.  Canes,  candies,  cigars 
and  cologne,  furnishing  goods,  cheap  jewelry,  toys, 
tinware,  even  boots  and  shoes — all  have  their  outdoor 
marts.  These  articles  are  invariably  of  the  cheapest 
make,  and  though  the  prices  are  preposterously  low, 
they  still  admit  a  profit  of  from  thirty  to  sixty  per 
cent. 

STREET  FAKIRS. 

The  itinerant  peddlers  of  these  wares,  profession- 
ally known  as  "fakirs,"  are  the  worst  off,  and  have  a 
hard  enough  time  of  it,  especially  if  they  have  to  pay 
cash  for  their  stock,  and  risk  the  loss  involved  by  a 
failure  to  sell.  Well-known  "fakirs"  usually  have 
credit  with  one  or  another  of  the  several  dealers  who 
supply  this  class  of  traders,  and  can  return  such  of 
their  stock  as  remains  unsold. 


838  WONDEES  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


An  active  and  successful  "fakir"  will  earn  a  couple 
of  dollars  a  day  with  a  popular  article;  but  there  are 
many  more  who  are  glad  to  pick  up  enough  to  pay 
for  a  bed  in  a  ten-cent  lodging  house,  and  a  meal  at  a 
tramp's  restaurant.  The  regular  "fakirs"  are  a  very 
curious  body.  There  are  men  among  them  who  have 
peddled  their  way  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
North  American  continent,  and  some  who  have  w^an- 
dered  into  the  tropics  and  South  America.  "Jake 
the  Fakir"  spent  three  years  under  the  Southern 
Cross,  selling  rubber  stamps  and  marking  plates. 
Drink  is  commonly  the  "fakir^s"  bane,  and  whether 
he  earns  much  or  little  it  all  goes  the  same  road. 
They  are  a  gregarious  folk,  and  if  you  find  one  in  any 
of  the  cheap  dormitories  down  town,  Avliich  are  about 
the  only  house  they  know,  you  are  tolerably  certain 
to  discover  others  in  the  same  place.  Like  the  thieves, 
they  have  a  slang  which,  if  it  is  not  particu- 

larly melodious,  is  at  least  expressive  and  picturesque. 

The  saw-filers  and  knife-grinders  form  a  numerous 
body.  Their  labors  now,  however,  are  chiefly  in  de- 
mand for  private  houses.  A  peculiarity  with  them 
is  that  in  summer,  w^hen  business  is  dull  here  in  con- 
sequence of  the  absence  of  people  from  town,  they 
take  long  professional  trips  into  the  country.  Itiner- 
ant tinkers,  glaziers,  and  umbrella  and  clock  menders 
find  most  of  their  employment  in  the  country  now, 
too.  So  do  the  sweeps.  There  are  still  half  a  dozen 
professional  chimney  sweeps  in  New  York.  But  the 
new  styles  of  chimney  building  and  the  invention  of 
patent  sweepers  have  trenched  on  their  field  until  it 
has  become  a  very  limited  one,  indeed.    The  old- 


Queer  Industries.  839 

fashioned  houses  in  the  rural  districts  are  their  best 
hold  now,  and  they  tramp  from  county  to  county 
pretty  much  all  the  year  round.  From  $3  to  $10  is 
the  price  paid  for  a  job  of  chimney  sweeping.  In 
return,  the  country  sends  us,  at  least,  one  notable  char- 
acter in  our  queer  businesses.  That  is  the  frog- 
catcher.  The  artists  are  usually  either  Frenchmen  or 
negroes,  and  they  come  in  from  Jersey,  Long  Island, 
and  Westchester  laden  with  frogs  and  water-cresses, 
the  collection  of  which  latter  delicacy  seems  to  be  a 
sort  of  side  business  with  them.  They  also  gather 
medicinal  herbs,  which  they  retail  ar&ong  their  com- 
patriots, and  to  queer  drug  stores  in  the  proletarian 
districts. 

Quite  a  trade  has  sprung  up,  in  the  last  couple  of 
years,  in  wooden  shoes,  or  sabots,  and  a  little  colony 
of  Frenchmen  is  kept  busy  in  a  shop  in  South  Fifth 
avenue  supplying  it.  The  shoes  are  shaped  out  of 
blocks  of  ash  or  whitewood,  and  hollowed  out  with 
fire.  They  cost  from  one  to  two  and  a  half  dollars  a 
pair,  and  will  last  as  long  as  tin  patches  can  be  put 
on  them.  They  seem  to  be  worn  by  workingmen, 
members  of  the  French  colony  in  this  city,  and  farmers 
and  farm  laborers  out  of  town.  A  grocery  store  in 
Greene,  near  Houston  street,  is  the  chief  retail  estab- 
lishment. The  sabots  are  asserted  to  be  quite  as 
light  as  the  cheap  horse-leather  brogans,  and  much 
drier  and  more  comfortable  to  the  feet,  as  well  as 
more  durable. 

PUBLIC  LETTER  WRITERS. 

Public   letter-writers   are  quite  common  in  our 


840  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 

foreign  quarters.  There  are  both  French  and  Ger- 
mans in  the  business.  They  write  letters  for  any- 
one who  desires  it,  and  furnish  translations  of  them 
either  in  English,  German  or  French;  some  even  in- 
cluding Italian  and  Spanish.  The  usual  fee  is  25 
cents,  and  they  say  they  are  generally  kept  busy 
enough.  The  headquarters  of  a  public  letter-writer 
is  usually  one  of  the  small  general  shops  where  every- 
thing from  shoe-strings  to  dragon  kites  is  sold,  and 
they  advertise  themselves  by  elaborately  engrossed 
pen-and-ink  signs  in  the  windows. 

The  early  stfoller  in  the  foreign  quarters  will  meet 
queer  old  women  and  decrepid  men,  who  flit  in  and 
out  of  the  houses  in  the  dark  hours  before  dawn,  like 
birds  of  ill  omen,  or  people  who  have  forgotten  where 
they  live.  These  are  professors  of  perhaps  the  oddest 
of  all  our  odd  businesses.  They  are  the  professional 
callers.  Their  duty  is  to  wake  people  up  who  have 
to  go  to  A^'ork  at  exceptionally  early  hours.  For  a 
few  cents,  at  most  a  dime  a  week  from  each  client, 
these  poor  creatures  perform  their  task,  turning  night 
into  day,  till  at  last  a  hand,  scarcely  more  grisly  than 
their  own,  knocks  at  their  own  door  and  summons 
them,  not  to  labor,  but  to  rest. 

There  are  musicians,  artists,  singers,  and  the  like, 
who  make  a  regular  business  of  performing  in  bar- 
rooms, relying  on  the  contributions  of  the  loungers 
for  pay.  The  artists  are  either  those  who  draw  soap 
pictures  on  windows  or  mirrors,  or  adepts  at  coarse 
caricature.  Bohemians  and  vagabonds,  who,  for  a 
dime  and  a  drink,  dash  off  a  crude  but  frequently 
quite  striking  pencil-sketch  of  whoever  choses  to  pay 


Queer  Industries.  841 

him.  A  one-eyed  young  man,  of  Hebrew  extraction, 
is  the  most  skillful  of  these  artists.  He  was  at  one 
time  employed  on  an  illustrated  paper,  and  exhibited 
considerable  promise,  but  drink  and  a  perverse  spirit 
secured  his  discharge,  and  he  drifted  into  this  method 
of  gaining  a  minimum  of  living  and  a  maximum  of 
liquor.  He  calls  a  dollar  and  a  drink  a  good  day's 
work,  and  rarely  makes  the  first. 

STEOLLII^G  MUSICIANS. 

The  musicians  are  usually  of  a  somewhat  better 
class,  morally.  They  include  performers  on  the  zither 
and  violin.  The  former  instrument  seems  to  be  the 
favorite  now.  The  bar-room  musicians  begin  their 
rounds  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  end  up  in 
late  bar-rooms  where,  out  of  the  beery  good  nature 
of  the  patrons,  they  reap  their  richest  harvests.  Most 
of  them  drink  little,  support  families  out  of  their 
earnings,  which  at  the  best  of  times  do  not  average 
more  than  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  day,  and  under- 
stand very  little  music.  There  is  one  troupe  of  very 
pretty  young  girls  who  give  bar-room  performances 
in  concert  on  the  harp,  violin  and  'cello,  and  do  very 
well  indeed — financially.  Bar-room  singers  and  jug- 
glers are  quite  common,  and  there  is  one  young  fel- 
low who  goes  from  one  saloon  to  another  exhibiting 
feats  of  contortion.  Another  plays  on  the  mouth 
organ,  giving  imitations  of  various  instruments  and 
rendering  difficult  airs  with  astonishing  truth  and 
beauty.  Yet  this  phenomenon  is  so  nearly  an  idiot 
that  he  has  to  have  a  little  brother  with  him  to  keep 
him  out  of  harm's  way. 


842  Wonders  of  a  Great  City, 


Up  to  a  few  months  ago  a  dapper  little  Italian  used 
to  haunt  certain  beer  gardens  with  a  diminutive  per- 
forming goat,  decked  out  with  ribbons,  spangles  and 
long  jingling  bells,  which  did  strange  feats  as  prettil  y 
as  poor  Esmeralda's  favorite.  But  the  goat  died,  and 
its  master  has  gone  out  of  the  business.  Street  jug- 
lers  turn  up  every  now  and  then,  and  do  card  tricks 
and  other  feats  of  prestidigitation  on  the  sidewalk, 
but  they  always  collect  big  crowds,  and  the  policemen 
constantly  disturb  them. 

Less  obnoxious  to  the  ofRcial  eye  is  the  man  who 
tells  fortunes  through  the  medium  of  birds.  He  has 
a  cage,  in  which  are  a  couple  of  poor,  bony  little 
canaries,  and  a  tray  full  of  envelopes.  When  a  cus- 
tomer expresses  a  desire  to  have  his  or  her  fortune 
told,  the  wizard  spreads  the  envelopes  out  before  the 
cage,  and  one  of  the  canaries  instantly  pecks  out  a 
missive.  This  contains  some  such  commonplace  an- 
nouncement as  "good  fortune"  or  "bad luck."  Profes- 
sor Logriena,  the  well-known  bird  trainer  and  presti- 
dio^itator,  denounces  this  business  as  a  burninoj  shame. 
The  birds,  he  says,  are  kept  on  the  verge  of  starva- 
tion, and  a  few  rape  seed  are  put  in  each  envelope. 
Of  course  the  little  feathered  martyrs  peck  at  it  in 
the  hope  of  obtaining  food. 

Punch  and  Judy  shows  are  now  becoming  quite 
familiar  features  in  our  streets.  So  are  peep-shows  of 
various  sorts,  principally  views  of  strange  lauds  and 
historic  scenes.  One  enterprising  showman  got  up  a 
series  illustrating  recent  murders.  An  Italian  now 
exhibits  a  very  fair  marionette  theatre  on  the  up- 
town streets  every  day.    In  the  intervals,  when  he  is 


Queer  Industries, 


843 


not  rusticating  on  tlie  Isliind,  Brown,  tlie  famous 
steamboat  man,  enlivens  the  streets  with  his  charac- 
teristic whistling  performances. 

SANDWICH  MEN. 

Sandwich  men  are  getting  to  be  as  common  in  the 
streets  of  New  York  as  they  used  to  be  in  London. 
Inserted  between  two  big  placards  setting  forth  the 
merits  of  some  cheap  eating  house,  or  advertising  bar- 
gains in  boots  or  dumb-bells,  they  creep  up  and  down 
in  a  doleful  procession,  like  so  many  colossal  snails, 
to  the  detriment  of  the  ribs  of  the  passers-by.  The 
oddest  of  the  sandwich  men  are  chose  employed  by  a 
French  house  painter.  They  travel  about,  bearing  tin 
signs,  on  which  are  inscribed  a  sensational  story  of 
the  murder  of  a  relative  in  Paris,  and  a  demand  for 
justice,  ending,  however,  with  the  name  and  address 
of  the  painter,  and  an  invitation  to  the  reader  to  have 
his  house  painted  in  the  best  style.  Sandwich  men 
earn  fifty  to  seventy-live  cents  a  day.  Some  few  get 
a  dollar,  but  they  are  aristocrats  in  the  profession, 
and  are  exceptions  to  the  rule.  There  must  be  some 
charm  or  fantastic  attraction,  like  that  the  stage  is 
said  to  exercise,  in  the  business,  for  there  are  men  in 
it  who  have  stuck  to  it  for  several  years. 

Among  other  queer  businesses  must  be  mentioned 
that  of  a  party  in  Twenty -third  street,  who  practices 
the  calling  of  moth  destroyer.  By  virtue  of  a  com- 
pound known  only  to  himself,  he  annihilates  those 
little  foes  to  good  clothes  and  fine  furs.  He  practices 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  In  contradistinction  to  him 
is  the  artist,  who,  on  Broadway,  follows  the  calling 


844 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


of  repairer  of  destroyed  china.  The  restoration  of 
valuable  damaged  books  is  another  curious  business. 
It  is  carried  on  to  great  perfection  in  England  and 
France.  Here  there  are  a  few  people  in  the  trade,  or 
rather  art.  and  they  always  have  their  hands  full. 
The  work  is  very  profitable  indeed,  as  is  also  that  of 
expanding  books  by  the  insertion  of  valuable  or 
curious  engravings.  Some  bibliomaniacs  have  had 
books  of  one  volume  swelled  to  thirty,  or  even  more, 
by  the  addition  of  pictures  illustrating  the  text. 
Another  business  which  has  proved  a  lucrative  one,  is 
that  of  selling  magical  instruments  of  the  cheaper 
sort,  and  instructing  the  buyers,  who  are  principally 
boys  and  youths,  in  their  use.  One  tradesman  in  this 
line  on  the  Bowery  is  never  idle. 

The  boquet  business  has  undergone  a  great  change 
within  the  last  couple  of  years.  Formerly  the  ven- 
ders used  to  buy  the  flowers  themselves  and  make 
them  into  bunches.  Some,  who  have  capital,  do  so 
to-day.  But  the  great  majority  of  them  are  only  ped- 
dlers for  flower-dealers,  who  make  the  boquets  by 
wholesale  and  employ  anyone  whom  they  can  trust 
to  hawk  them.  They  allow  the  vender  a  cent  on 
every  five  cent  boquet  sold  and  three  cents  on  every 
ten  cent  one.  Certain  east  side  streets  are  fairly 
lined  with  these  floral  speculators'  shops. 

It  would  require  a  whole  book  to  review  the  army 
of  ragpickers,  cigar-stump  collectors,  organ  grinders, 
itinerant  cobblers,  clothes  menders  and  cutters  (for 
there  are  men  who  go  from  house  to  house  cutting 
the  cloth  which  thrifty  housewives  make  into  cloth- 
ing for  their  numerous  families)  and  the  like,  aU  of 


TTcie  Ice  livdMstxy  ol  HexM  Xov)l. 


Queer  Industries. 


845 


whom  help  to  swell  the  tide  of  life  in  the  metropolis 
and  gain  a  livelihood,  commonly  meagre  enough  by 
trades  which  people  know  hardly  exist. 

There  is  one  figure  among  the  lot,  however,  which 
calls  for  more  extended  comment.  It  is  that  of  the 
accommodating  gentleman  who  has  come  to  be 
known  as  the  "time  peddler. "  Not  that  he  peddles 
clocks,  but  that  he  knows  the  value  of  time,  and  don't 
object  to  consuming  some  of  it  for  the  benefit  of  his 
customers. 

There  are  quite  a  number  of  time  peddlers  in 
New  York,  and  they  are  most  useful  members  of  the 
community.  They  are  all  Hebrew^s,  and  sell  every- 
thing on  the  installment  plan.  If  your  wife  wants  a 
silk  dress  she  can  obtain  the  material  fi*om  the  time 
peddler,  paying  a  few  dollars  down  and  the  rest  in 
stated  installments.  Hats,  shoes,  underclothing, 
linen,  everything  a  woman  needs,  in  short,  are  sup- 
plied by  him.  He  will  contract  to  furnish  the  hus- 
band as  well  as  his  wife,  too,  even  to  the  extent  of 
an  overcoat  or  a  suit  of  clothes.  In  this  case  the 
customer  is  sent  to  some  tailor,  who  measures  and 
supplies  him  w^th  the  required  garments,  sending 
the  bill  to  the  peddler.  The  latter  pays  it,  and  pre- 
sents his  bill  to  the  customer,  with  an  addition  of 
from  twenty-five  to  fifty  per  cent  for  the  accommoda- 
tion. Nothing  comes  amiss  to  the  time  peddler,  from 
a  paper  of  pins  to  a  piano.  He  will  supply  them  all 
but  at  nearly  if  not  quite  double  the  price  one  would 
have  to  pay  if  the  transaction  had  been  conducted 
on  a  cash  basis. 


CHAPTER  LVII. 
THE  BIG  BEIDGE. 


THE  SUSPENSION  BRIDGE  OVER  EAST  RIVER — LENGTH,  STRENGTH,  AND 
SIZE  OF  THE  STRUCTURE — THE  APPROACHES  —  METHODS  OF  TRANS- 
PORTATION— OPENING-DAY  SCENES. 


most  gigantic  undertakings  of  tlie  kind  in  the 
world,  was  begun  the  day  after  New  Year's,  in  1870, 
and  for  years  employed  many  thousands  of  workmen. 
Stretching  from  two  immense  granite  piers,  across 
East  River  fi^om  New  York  to  Brooklyn,  swinging 
high  above  the  tallest  masts  of  ships,  it  affords  the 
means  of  rapid  conveyance  between  the  two  cities. 
The  entire  cost  of  the  magnificent  structure,  includ- 
ing the  long  approaches,  on  either  side,  and  the  sums 
paid  for  buildings  removed  to  make  way  for  the 
approaches,  counts  up  more  than  $14,000,000,  of 
which  Brooklyn,  most  benefitted  by  the  bridge, 
paid  two-thirds,  and  New  York  one-third.  It  re- 
quired years  to  sink  deep  the  solid  foundations  and 
to  raise  the  granite  piers,  and  it  was  late  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1877,  when  a  wire  was  drawn  from  pier  to 
pier  to  carry  over  the  first  of  the  thousands  of 
strands  which  compose  the  four  great  supporting 
cables  from  which  the  bridge  itself  is  suspended. 


Suspension  Bridge,  one  of  the 


The  Big  Bridge. 


847 


FACTS  AND  FIGUEES. 

The  following  details  will  give  an  idea  of  the 
length,  strength  and  .size  of  the  big  bridge  and  its 
piers.  The  depth  of  the  tower  foundations  below 
high  water  is  78  ft.  in  New  York  and  48  ft.  in  Brook- 
lyn ;  the  height  of  the  towers  above  high  water  is 
278  [ft.,  and  the  two  contain  85,159  cubic  yards  of 
masonry.  The  height  of  the  floor  of  the  bridge  is 
119  ft.  3  in.  above  high  water.  The  length  of  the 
river  span  is  1,595  ft.  6  in.  and  the  total  length,  in- 
cluding the  land  spans  and  approaches,  is  5,989  ft. 
The  width  of  the  bridge  is  85  ft.  There  are  four 
cables,  15f  inches  in  diameter,  each  cable  containing 
5,296  parallel  (not  twisted)  galvanized  steel,  oil- 
coated  wires,  weighing  a  pound  to  every  12  feet  of 
each  w^re,  closely  wrapped  to  a  solid  cylinder,  and 
the  strength  of  each  cable  is  12,200  tons.  As  many 
as  one  thousand  men  have  been  at  work  on  the  bridge 
at  once. 

The  net  cost  6i  the  entire  land  used  on  both  sides 
of  the  river  was  about  $3,576,000,  and  the  construc- 
tion of  the  approaches  cost  more  than  $2,000,000. 
Whole  blocks  of  buildings  were  bought  and  pulled 
down,  and  the  materials  were  sold  for  what  they 
would  bring,  for  nothing  but  granite,  iron,  and  steel 
enter  into  the  construction  of  the  bridge  or  its  ap- 
proaches. A  long  inclined  plane  on  either  side  of 
the  river,  with  the  roadway  laid  on  granite  walls, 
leads  to  the  bridge.  Numerous  streets  are  crossed, 
sometimes  by  arches  spanned  over  them,  but  oftener 
by  ornamental  iron  bridges.    The  arches  are  both 


848  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


novel  and  striking,  and  the  pilasters  are  enriched  by 
chaste  carvings. 

The  bridge  is  traversed  by  cable  cars,  the  design 
of  Superintendent  Payne  and  ex-Engineer  Robeling. 
The  cable  is  propelled  by  a  mammoth  engine,  which 
is  located  on  the  Brooklyn  end.  It  can  drive  twenty 
trains  of  two  coaches  each  without  detriment,  the 
passage  across  being  made  in  four  minutes.  One 
hundred  thousand  persons  frequently  cross  the  bridge 
in  a  day.  It  costs  three  cents  to  ride  across  and  one 
cent  to  walk.  The  pedestrian  way  is  above  and  to 
either  side  of  the  steel  tracks.  Vehicles  also  have  a 
fine  roadway.  The  bridge  is  controlled  by  the  two 
cities,  with  an  especial  police  force  of  its  own. 

THE  OPENING. 

The  bridge  was  completed  about  May  10,  1883,  but 
it  was  not  thrown  open  to  the  public  until  a  fortnight 
later.  The  occasion  was  made  a  gala  one,  by  the 
inhabitants  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn.  The  pro- 
cession, which  moved  from  the  Brooklyn  City  Hall, 
was  led  by  Mayor  Seth  M.  Low,  and  the  President  of 
the  Common  Council,  followed  by  the  city,  county 
and  State  officials,  the  Brooklyn  trustees  of  the  bridge. 
Commodore  Upshur  and  staif,  and  General  Hancock 
and  staff.  They  paused  at  the  Brooklyn  tower,  while 
President  Arthur  and  Secretary  Folger,  escorted  by 
the  New  York  officials,  moved  over  from  the  New 
York  approach.  The  blended  procession  then  moved 
to  the  Sands  Street  Station  on  the  Brooklyn  side, 
where  the  opening  ceremonies  were  held. 


CHAPTER  LVni. 


THE  BARTHOLDI  STATXIE. 

ONE  OF  THE  MODERN  WONDERS  OP  THE  WORLD  ERECTED  IN  NEW 
YORK  HARBOR — THE  GIFT  TO  FREE  AMERICA  OF  A  LIBERTY-LOVING 
FRENCHMAN— DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  STATUE. 

NEW  YOEK  is  justly  proud  of  her  Statue  of 
"Liberty  Euliglitening  the  World."  It  stands 
on  Bc-dloe's  Island,  two  miles  from  the  Battery  and 
Castle  Garden,  well  out  in  the  fine  harbor.  Bedloe's 
Island  covers  thirteen  and  a  half  acres  of  ground,  and 
was  formely  the  site  of  Fort  Wool.  It  still  contains 
a  small  garrison  of  artillerists,  besides  the  persons 
who  are  intrusted  with  the  care  of  the  Statue.  It  was 
the  former  hanging  ground  for  pirates  captured  along 
the  adjacent  coast  and  Long  Island,  and  as  such  was 
long  a  synonym  for  justice  and  liberty.  The  Statue 
is  easy  of  access.  A  small  steamboat  runs  from  the 
Barge  office  at  the  Battery  every  hour,  and  the  fare 
for  the  round  trip  is  only  a  trifle.  From  the  deck  of 
an  incoming  steamer,  the  first  object  to  greet  the  eye 
of  the  anxious  passenger  is  the  Statue  of  Liberty.  It 
towers  far  above  the  Sandy  Hook  Lighthouse  and  the 
wooded  hills  of  Staten  Island.  At  fii'st,  it  is  a  mere 
blur  against  the  seeming  haze  bank,  which  always 
hovers  and  nestles  over  coasts,  but  at  a  dozen  miles 
distant  its  majestic  beauty  can  be  plainly  discerned; 


850  WONDERP  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


and  at  night  when  its  electric  torch  is  aglare  over 
three  hundred  feet  in  mid  air,' the  sight  to  the  incom- 
ing immigrant  is  one  never  to  he  forgotten.  It  gives 
him  a  fit  impression  of  the  great  and  magnanimous 
country  he  is  seeking  refuge  in. 

THE  FAMOUS  STATUE. 

Liberty  Enlightening  the  World,  is  a  majestic  fe- 
male figure  standing  erect.  In  the  upraised  right  hand 
is  a  torch,  which  is  lighted  at  night  by  electricity,  and 
in  the  left  hand  is  a  volume  of  the  Constitution.  It 
is  the  largest  bronze  statue  in  the  world,  and  it  faces 
very  nobly  toward  the  Narrows,  the  route  to  and  fi'om 
Europe. 

The  Bartholdi  statue  was  received  at  New  York, 
June  19,  1885.  The  French  vessel,  with  the  statue 
on  board,  was  escorted  up  the  bay  to  Bedloe's  Island, 
by  a  number  of  United  States  men-of-war  and  other 
vessels,  and  a  formal  reception  was  given  the  French 
committee  by  a  number  of  distinguished  citizens  of 
New  York,  headed  by  the  mayor.  It  is  said  that  the 
idea  of  rearing  a  colossal  statue  to  symbolize  Amer- 
ica's message  of  liberty  to  the  world,  first  occurred  to 
the  sculptor  Bartholdi,  when  he  sailed  up  New  York 
bay  on  a  visit  to  this  country  in  1870.  On  his  return 
to  France,  he  suggested  to  his  friends  his  idea  of  such 
a  statue  to  be  presented  by  the  French  nation  to  the 
United  States.  The  idea  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  so  rapidly  did  subscriptions  come  in,  that 
in  1883,  the  sculptor  began  work  upon  his  great  statue. 
M.  Bartholdi  supervised  every  step  of  the  work, 
which  was  not  only  a  labor  of  many  years,  but  one 
full  of  difficulty  and  detail.    First,  the  artist  made 


r 


The  Bartholdi  Statue.  851 


his  model  in  clay,  and  when  this  was  approved,  a 
plaster  statue  was  made,  in  dimensions  one-sixteenth 
the  size  of  the  intended  statue.  Then  another  plaster 
statue  was  made  four  times  as  large  as  the  first,  and 
a  second  of  the  full  dimensions  of  the  finished  work. 
Both  of  these  had  to  be  made  with  the  utmost  care, 
giving  close  attention  to  exactness  of  proportion  be- 
tween the  parts.  The  last  model  liad  to  be  made  in 
sections,  and  a  wooden  framework  was  constructed, 
on  which  the  plaster  was  spread.  When  these  sec- 
tions in  plaster  were  complete,  wooden  models  were 
used,  exact  copies  of  the  plaster  in  size  and  modeling. 
These  were  all  carefully  cut  out  by  hand,  and  in  them 
were  shaped  the  rejpousse^  or  hammered  brass  work, 
which  was  to  make  the  outside  of  the  statue.  For  it 
is  plain  that  to  construct  a  statue  of  the  enormous 
proportions  designed  for  this,  no  stones  large  enougli 
could  be  found,  and  no  masonry  would  be  of  sufficient 
strength,  so  the  framework  of  the  figure  is  made  of 
iron  bars,  firmly  riveted  together,  over  which  are  laid 
the  sheets  of  hammered  brass.  Eighty-eight  tons  of 
brass  were  used  in  the  structure,  and  the  entire  weight 
of  the  statue  is  440,000  pounds.  The  height  of  the 
statue  itself  is  157^  feet,  and  elevated  on  its  complete 
pedestal,  it  towers  above  the  bay  at  a  height  of  305 
feet.  Some  idea  of  the  enormous  proportions  of  the 
figure  may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that  forty  persons 
can  stand  within  the  head,  which  is  fourteen  feet 
high.  The  forefinger  is  eight  feet  long,  and  four  feet 
in  circumference  at  the  middle  joint.  A  spiral  stair- 
case within  the  figure  leads  up  to  the  head,  and  there 
is  one  also  within  the  arm  leading  to  the  uplifted 


852  Wonders  of  a  Great  Oity, 


torch,  on  whose  ledge  fifteen  persons  can  find  com- 
fortable standing  room. 

In  constructing  this  metal  statue,  two  things  had 
to  be  considered,  which  in  themselves  seem  very 
trifling,  but  had  they  been  overlooked,  only  a  few 
years,  comparatively,  would  have  been  sufficient  to 
destroy  the  beauty  and  permanence  of  the  work.  One 
was  the  heat  of  the  sun,  which  would  expand  the 
metal,  and  pull  it  all  out  of  shape;  and  the  other  was 
the  sea  breeze,  which  by  intruding  salt  moisture  would 
render  every  joining  of  copper  and  iron  a  small  elec- 
tric battery,  and  slowly  corrode  the  two  metals,  and 
crumble  them  into  dust.  The  framework  of  iron  and 
the  copper  covering,  though  securely  fastened  to- 
gether, are  so  constructed  that  the  bolts  joining  them 
may  slip  as  the  outside  metal  expands  in  the  hot 
sun,  and  slip  back  again  when  it  contracts  in  the 
cold.  To  prevent  the  generation  of  electricity,  a 
padding  of  non-conductible  substance  is  to  be  inserted 
at  every  bolt  and  rivet,  so  that  the  metals  cannot 
come  in  contact  with  each  other. 

This  statue  is  a  free  gift  of  respect  and  good  will 
from  the  people  of  France  to  those  of  America.  The 
jiedestal  on  which  the  statue  is  raised  was  built  with 
funds  collected  in  this  country  by  private  subscrip- 
tion. 

Bartholdi's  great  "Liberty"  statue  may  well  rank 
among  the  wonders  of  the  world,  for  in  design  and 
achievement  it  is  a  marvel  of  sublime  conception 
nobly  wrought  out.  It  is  in  every  way  worthy  of  the 
grand  idea  it  is  meant  to  symbolize,  and  no  higher 
praise  could  be  accorded  it. 


The  Bartholdi  Statue. 


853 


DEDICATION  SEiiYICES. 

October  28,  1886,  this  famous  Statue  was  unveiled 
with  appropriate  ceremonies.  The  weather  was  most 
unpropitious,  a  drizzling  rain  falling  all  day,  but  an 
immense  number  of  spectators  were  present.  After 
a  street  parade  the  people  were  conveyed  in  steamers 
to  Bedloe's  Island.  Here  M.  de  Lesseps  made  a  brief 
speecli  on  the  unity  of  feeling  between  France  and 
America,  and  was  followed  by  Senator  Evarts  in  the 
presentation  address.  The  veil  was  then  drawn  from 
the  face  of  the  Statue,  amid  the  booming  of  cannon 
and  the  shrieking  of  steam  whistles.  After  this, 
President  Cleveland  accepted  the  gift  with  a  few  ap- 
propriate words,  and  after  speeches  by  M.  A.  Lefevre, 
the  French  minister,  and  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  of  New 
York,  the  ceremonies  were  closed  witk  prayer,  and  a 
national  salute  from  all  the  batteries  in  the  harbor. 
The  cost  of  the  Statue  and  pedestal  was  a  fraction 
over  one  million  dollars. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 


MAYOE  HEWITT'S  CKUSADE. 

A  SUCCESSFUL  WAR  ORDERED  AGAINST  THE  DIVES  OP  GOTHAM  —  ONE 
CLASS  OF  VICE  PUT  DOWN  BY  A  DETERMINED  CITY  OFFICIAL — A  TOUR 
OF  THE  PLAGUE-SPOT  DISTRICT — ENCOURAGING  SCENES. 

SINCE  the  date  of  the  conception  of  the  word 
"dive"  as  applied  to  a  disreputable  place,  de- 
voted to  lewd  assemblages  and  the  sale  of  poor  liquor, 
New  York  has  ranked  par  excellence  as  the  home  of 
the  same.  Its  low  quarters  have  been  largely  given 
over  to  such  haunts  of  the  criminal  classes  since  the 
"Forties,"  and  night  was  devoted  to  deeds  of  riotous 
revelry  and  dissipated  darkness.  But  now  all  is 
changed,  thanks  to  Mayor  Hewitt.  In  the  month  of 
April  of  the  present  year.  Mayor  Hewitt  said  the 
dives  must  go.  There  should  no  longer  be  permitted 
a  disreputable  resort  of  the  dive  order  on  Manhattan 
Island.  The  Police  Commissioners  said  in  reply  that 
the  dives  were  a  necessary  evil,  and  that  they  could 
not  be  stamped  out.  Mayor  Hewitt,  not  only  thought 
differently,  but  he  spoke  to  the  point,  and  announced 
that  he  would  either  close  the  dives  or  remove  every 
police  official  in  the  city  from  commissioner  to  patrol- 
man. The  result  has  been  wonderful.  A  great 
change  has  lately  come  over  the  Bowery,  and 
greater  changes  are  noticeable  in  other  parts  of 


Mayor  Hewitt's  Crusade.  855 


Gotham,  where  for  years  the  foulest  and  filthiest  class 
of  low  groggeries,  concert  saloons,  and  dance-houses 
have  thrived  in  the  face  of  all  opposition  from  the 
respectable  elements  of  society.  Mayor  Hewitt 
entered  upon  the  work  with  the  determination  to  let 
nothing  interfere  with  its  successful  accomplishment. 
He  closed  his  ears  to  all  appeals  from  aldermen  or 
others  with  political  influence,  and  gave  his  detectives 
and  police  force  to  understand  that  no  excuse  of  any 
kind  would  be  accepted  for  failure  to  perform  their 
duties. 

CEUSHING  BLOWS. 

It  was  not  the  small  places  that  Mayor  Hewitt 
aimed  his  first  blows,  but  at  the  most  prominent  and 
powerful  dives  in  the  metropolis — Harry  Hill's  and 
The.  Allen's  among  them.  As  the  smaller  places 
saw  the  larger  ones  cleaned  out  they  gave  way  to 
the  inevitable  with  little  trouble,  knowing  that  if 
Harry  Hill  and  The.  Allen  could  not  sustain  them- 
selves with  all  the  power  of  money  and  political  in- 
fluence behind  them  there  would  be  no  chance  for 
disreputables  of  the  humbler,  but  equally  vicious 
class. 

Two  New  York  reporters  made  a  tour  of  the  Bow- 
ery and  other  districts  of  like  reputation,  on  the  night 
of  May  1,  to  investigate  the  early  fruits  of  the  new 
crusade  in  the  interests  of  law  and  order.  The  first 
place  visited  was  the  First  National,  a  cellar  under  a 
cellar,  in  the  angle  of  North  William  and  Chatham 
streets,  directly  opposite  the  old  Star  ofiSce,  and  fifty 
feet  above  the  entrance  to  the  Brooklyn  bridge.  The 


856 


WONDEBS  OF  A  GrEAT  CiTY. 


First  National  is  Los.  Curtis'  place.  The  owner  is  a 
gentleman  of  the  Bill  Sykes  stamp,  with  a  passion 
for  dog-fights  and  a  penchant  for  beating  women. 
Less  than  a  month  ago  the  clarion  notes  of  Los'  un- 
derground orchestra  rang  out  through  the  grating, 
,and  disturbed  the  thoughts  of  late  passengers  wait- 
ing on  the  platform  of  the  City  Hall  station,  while 
the  glare  of  his  illuminants  lit  up  North  William 
street  weiixlly,  and  suggested  to  the  imaginative  that 
one  of  the  doors  of  the  infernal  regions  had  been  left 
ajar.  But  now  all  was  hushed  and  dark.  The  for- 
mer ''blind"  lentrance  to  the  cellar,  through  an  al- 
leged restaurant,  was  barred.  Further  down  the 
street  were  two  basement  entrances,  closed  by  swing- 
ing shutters,  with  a  big  and  much-lace-curtained  win- 
dow between.  All  was  peaceful  and  gloomy  and 
uninteresting  as  could  be.  The  searchers  for  inform- 
ation descended  and  entered.  They  found  them- 
selves in  a  rude  apartment,  reeking  with  foul 
odors.  Before  the  window  was  a  bar,  behind  which 
stood  a  surly-looking  man  in  his  shirt-sleeves.  He 
had  a  wicked  appearing,  bull-dog  for  a  companion. 
Two  or  three  jaded  women  sat  around  the  room  in 
shabby  suits.  Behind  them  were  doors  leading  into 
little  dark  cells  that  were  under  the  sidewalk  of 
Chatham  street.  It  is  said  that  there  is  another  cel- 
lar under  this,  to  which  the  half  or  wholly  drunken 
sailors,  who  are  the  chief  patrons  of  the  place,  are 
taken,  but  the  visitors  did  not  investigate.  In  fact, 
they  were  not  happy  where  they  were,  for  it  is  hard, 
in  case  of  ejectment,  to  fall  gracefully  up-stairs. 
Somehow  or  other  the  appearance  of  the  reporters 


Mayor  Hewitts  Crusade. 


857 


albeit  togged  out  in  their  fishing  raiment,  did  not 
meet  with  the  approval  of  the  master  of  ceremonies, 
who  scowled  darkly  upon  them.  Nevertheless, 
when  they  approached  the  bar  he  gave  a  fierce  jerk  to 
his  head  and  two  slatternly  females  sidled  up  along- 
side. 

"Pony  of  beer,"  said  one  reporter. 
"Same,"  said  the  other. 

"We  ain't  sellin'  no  beer,"  growled  the  suspicious 
man  behind  the  bar.    "Nothin'  but  soft  drinks." 
^' No  beer?" 
"Naw." 

The  bull-dog  lifted  his  head  at  this,  and  the  visit- 
ors quickly  decided  that  they  were  dying  for  seltzer. 

"Ain't  you  goin'  to  stand  treat,  dear,"  asked  one 
of  the  slatterns.  No  objection  being  made,  two 
glasses  of  reddish  liquid  were  passed  out,  and  the 
First  National  called  for  a  deposit  of  60  cents. 

"Business  good,"  asked  the  reporter  in  a  friendly 
way. 

"Naw,"  growled  the  human  bull-dog  uncommuni- 
catively. 

Finding  that  he  was  not  disposed  to  be  sociable, 
the  visitors  departed. 

DISCOMFITED  DIVE-KEEPERS. 

Bismarck  hall  is  a  similar  establishment,  but  some- 
what less  vicious  in  character,  situated  at  the  corner 
of  Pearl  and  Chatham  streets  in  the  basement.  It 
was  open,  but  in  a  very  subdued  fashion.  Visitors 
were  few.  The  colored  fluids  dispensed  at  the  bar 
found  few  customers.    The  proprietor  was  listless 


858  Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


and  dejected.  His  little  flock  of  fairies  shared  in 
his  expression  of  gloom.  The  "wine-rooms" — heaven 
save  the  mark! — were  not  called  into  requisition.  A 
pallid  dame,  who  looked  every  inch  of  fifty,  plucked 
one  of  the  reporters  by  the  sleeve,  and  hoarsely  whis- 
pered :  "Say,  boss,  I  hadn't  had  a  square  drink  to-night. 
Set  'em  up,  won't  ye  ?" 

Although  two  ladies  had  already  been  assisted,  this 
genuine  pleader  was  not  refused.  Her  request  was 
not  strictly  according  to  the  etiquette  of  the  place 
but  everybody  was  too  down-hearted  to  object. 

Of  the  other  Chatham  street  dives,  the  Excelsior, 
at  101,  was  found  to  be  open,  but  playing  to  empty 
benches;  ditto  the  Cambridge,  at  147;  ditto  the  Man 
hattan,  at  175.  The  surface  den  marked  "181,  for- 
merly 141,"  had  a  light  behind  the  window,  but  the 
doors  were  locked  and  a  "  to  let  "  sign  ornamented 
door.  The  big  Oriental,  and  the  dive  underneath, 
next  door  to  the  "  fake  "  museum  in  Chatham  square, 
were  vacant  and  to  let  for  business  purposes.  "Would- 
be  visitors  went  north  and  slaked  their  thirst  in  poi- 
son of  the  Hartigan  brand. 

The  famous  old  Plymouth,  at  27  Bowery,  where 
short-skirted  damsels  have  so  recently  conspired  to 
rob  the  unwary,  was  found  to  be  transformed  into 
an  enormous  shooting  gallery.  Various  others  have 
put  on  the  habiliments  of  legitimate  business.  The 
vile  cellar  establishments,  corner  of  Bowery  and  Bay- 
ard street,  where  a  murderous  assault  was  committed 
inside  of  six  months,  is  no  more. 


Mayor  Hewitts  Crusade. 


859 


THE  HAPPY  HEATHEN. 

Pell  street  dives  have  not  been  wiped  out  yet,  and 
under  the  rose  are  still  committed  there  about  all  the 
crimes  and  vices  which  human  ingenuity  has  yet  de- 
vised. But  the  patrons  are  almost  wholly  Chinese, 
and  the  Caucasian  explorers  found  nothing  but 
locked  doors  and  an  expression  of  innocence  to  re- 
ward their  search. 

There  were  slight  signs  of  life  in  the  Casino  Gar- 
den, 51  Bowery.  Through  the  open  door  a  bar  could 
be  seen  with  one  or  two  customers  before  it.  Be- 
yond was  a  screen  of  shutters,  and  back  of  that  the 
"Garden,"  a  large  hall,  with  many  tables  in  it,  w^here 
the  guests  were  wont  to  sit  .and  discuss  beer  and 
whisky  with  the  pale  charmers  hired  to  persuade 
them  to  drink  often,  and  to  listen  to  the  diabolical 
melodies  of  the  spavined  piano  and  the  blatant  horn. 
When  the  visitors  entered  this  almost  deserted  hall 
they  saw — what  do  you  think? — the  dozen  women 
of  the  place  seated  in  a  circle  busily  engaged  in  sew- 
ing or  mending!  Two  arose  reluctantly  and  came 
forward  and  seated  themselves  beside  the  visitors, 
who  called  for  ponies  of  beer. 

"Aren't  you  goin^  to  treat  V  asked  lady  No.  1. 

"Certainly." 

"Me  too?"  asked  No.  2. 

"Why,  yes,  I  suppose  so." 

"Give  me  seltzer  plain,  said  No.  1. 

"Give  me  whisky  and  ginger  ale,"  said  No.  2,  whose 
chalky  face  and  trembling  hand  showed  that  strong 
drink  was  no  stranger  to  her.  The  hard-faced  waiter 
brought  two  ponies  of  bad  beer,  one  of  Croton,  and 


860 


Wonders  of  a  Great  City. 


anotner  of  mystery,  and  returned  40  cents  change, 
tlie  usual  thing  from  a  dollar  bill.  The  women 
sighed  dismally,  and  said  ^'Here's  luck,"  dolefully, 
and  drank  perfunctorily. 

"Where's  all  the  music?"  asked  one  of  the  report- 
ers, with  an  aifectation  of  surprise. 

"Stopped,"  said  No.  1,  who  was  a  woman  of  con- 
siderable intelligence. 

"You  don't  say?    Why,  how  is  that?" 

"Oh,  it's  all  that  d  beggar,  Hewitt.  Every- 
thing is  shut  up  since  he  was  made  mayor;  every- 
thing's going  to  the  devil.  Why,  see  the  places  he's 
closed  up." 

"Indeed!    I  hadn't  heard  it." 

"It's  true,  though.  The  sportin'  places — that  is, 
the  music  kind — is  all  shut  up.  McGlory's  and  the 
Brighton  and  The.  Allen's  and  McCarthy's,  over  on 
Mercer  street,  and  all  the  up-town  places,  so  I  hear, 
though  I  don't  know  nothin'  about  them.  If  you 
can't  have  music  you  can't  get  business.  You  see 
how  it  is  here^ — like  a  churchyard.  And  this  house 
closes  on  Saturday  night  for  good.  They're  goin'  to 
auction  everything  and  sell  out. " 

"What  will  you  do  then?" 

"I  don't  know.  Guess  we'll  have  to  emigrate  to 
Philadelphia  or  Chicago. " 

Vile  was  the  beer  of  the  Philharmonic,  109  Bow- 
ery. Empty  was  the  hall  whence  Orpheus  had  fled. 
A  woman  handsome  as  Hebe,  and  another  of  unpre- 
possessing mien,  came  up  to  the  bar  and  wooed  long 
and  earnestly  to  be  treated.  By  way  of  variety  they 
were  treated  with  contumely,  but  instead  of  turning 


Mayor  Hewitts  Crusade.  861 


ferociously  upon  those  who  denied  them  a  share  in 
the  profits,  after  the  usual  manner  of  the  Philhar- 
monic woman  scorned,  they  merely  swore  in  an  un- 
dertone and  meekly  returned  to  their  seats  behind 
the  screen.    Ah,  me,  how  have  the  mighty  fallen? 

The  investigators  next  betook  themselves  to  the 
Brighton — the  cheap  edition  of  the  Haymarket  on 
Great  Jones  street.  Alas  and  alas  !  The  big  illum- 
inated sign,  which  hung  so  jauntily  over  the  side- 
walk and  notified  passers  on  the  Bowery  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Brighton — it  was  gone  for  good.  The 
curtains,  too,  were  down,  but  stray  gleams  of  light 
crept  around  the  edges.  On  the  door  was  a  chalked 
invitation  to  try  the  side  door,  but  the  side  door 
failed  to  respond.  The  knob  had  been  removed,  and 
neither  persuasive  knocks  nor  explosive  kicks  re- 
ceived response.  The  investigators  seated  them- 
selves on  a  contiguous  coal-box  and  watched  man- 
kind come  and  go.  But  mankind  did  not  get  in. 

The.  Allen's  empty  and  to  let. 

McCarthy's,  over  the  stable  on  Mercer  street,  dark 
as  Erebus. 

Andy  Kelly's  negro  establishment — deserted. 

The  Black-and-Tan,  on  Bleecker  street— no  business. 

The  Corinthian  pillars  that  support  the  big  black 
entrance  to  Armory  hall  stood  sentinel  that  night 
over  a  curiously  new  Hester  street — a  Hester  street 
bereft  of  its  youthful,  sad,  flitting  figures ;  a  Hester 
street  through  which  a  gentleman  or  lady  might  pass 
without  fear  of  insult.  Oh,  it  was  astonishing! 
Where  had  they  gone  ?  McGlory's  glory  has  cer- 
tainly passed  away  forever.    In  place  of  the  gay, 


802  WoNDEits  OF  A  Great  City. 


frenzied  dances,  and  the  pandemoniac  revels  of  the 
past,  the  deserted  hall  is  now  given  up  to  the  noc- 
turnal rat  aud  the  busy  spider.  It  will  soon,  doubt- 
less, be  turned  into  a  tenement,  for  the  police  are 
sworn  to  never  let  it  open  again. 


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